Regression models for spatial prediction: their role for biodiversity and conservation

This paper is an introduction to a Special Issue on 'regression models for spatial predictions' published in Biodiversity and Conservation following an international workshop held in Switzerland in 2001 (http:// leba. unige. ch/ workshop). This introduction describes how the exponential growth in computing power has improved our ability to reach spatially explicit assessment of biodiversity and to develop cost-effective conservation management. New questions arising from these modern approaches are listed, while papers presenting examples of applications are briefly introduced.