As nature continues to decline, there is growing interest in understanding where ecosystems are under the greatest pressure and how this may affect economic activities and public policy. Identifying areas of natural capital depletion can help organisations focus efforts to reduce impacts and support nature-positive outcomes.

UNEP-WCMC has developed maps showing hotspots of natural capital depletion across Europe. These maps highlight areas where recent or ongoing pressures on ecosystems are relatively high. They are designed for high-level screening and prioritisation, rather than as a detailed assessment of overall environmental condition.

This briefing note explains how the maps were developed, their intended use and key limitations. The maps should be used as a starting point and combined with local ecological data and sector-specific dependencies to support decision-making.