Florach.Ar: An Open‐Access Data Platform and Novel Digital Methodology for Large‐Scale Biodiversity Assessment in the Patagonian Steppe

ABSTRACT The vast expanse and logistical challenges of the Patagonian steppe severely limit large‐scale ecological monitoring, creating critical information gaps for the management of an ecosystem threatened by desertification. This work presents an innovative methodology to overcome these limitations, based on high‐resolution systematic sampling and the use of customized digital tools for standardized field data collection. The result was a database with more than 40 000 georeferenced interception records, covering a sampling area of 90 000 km 2 , systematised, and published on the open‐access platform florach.ar . Analysis of these data allowed for the characterisation of the floristic composition, identifying 172 plant taxa belonging to 41 botanical families, with a clear dominance of Asteraceae, Poaceae and Solanaceae. Ten main plant communities were also differentiated, and indicators of ecosystem condition were quantified. The average surface area of bare soil is 65%, a key indicator that demonstrates the magnitude of desertification processes in the region. The platform serves as an unprecedented diagnostic tool and baseline for conservation planning and scientific research, promoting a replicable open science model for other arid regions.