Assessing ecosystem condition at the national level in Hungary - indicators, approaches, challenges

The availability of robust and reliable spatial information on ecosystem condition is increasing importance in informing conservation policy. Recent policy requirements have sparked a renewed interest conceptual questions related to practical aspects like indicator selection, resulting the emergence frameworks, such as System Environmental-Economic Accounting - Ecosystem (SEEA-EA) its Condition Typology (ECT). However, while frameworks are essential ensure that assessments comprehensive comparable, large-scale implementation often poses challenges need be tackled within stringent time cost frames. We present methods experiences national-level mapping assessment Hungary. covered whole country, including all major types present. methodology constitutes four approaches quantifying condition, based different interpretations naturalness hemeroby, complemented by two more using properties ‘overarch’ types, soil landscape attributes. In order highlight their strengths drawbacks, well help reconcile relevance with limitations, we retrospectively evaluated six (and indicators) against selection criteria suggested SEEA-EA. results show various weaknesses and, thus, joint application has higher potential address specific mapping.