Global change and the intensification of human activities have led to a sharp decline in global biodiversity and other ecological issues. Over the past 30 years, ecologists have increasingly focused on the question of whether and how the ongoing loss of biodiversity affects ecosystem functioning. However, historically, researchers have predominantly concentrated on individual ecosystem functions, neglecting the capacity of ecosystems to provide multiple ecosystem functions simultaneously, known as ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF). As a result, the connection between biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality (BEMF) has become the central theme in BEF relationship research. In recent years, the research on the BEMF relationship has developed rapidly, and new progress has been made in different ecosystems, the driving mechanism of the BEMF relationship, and the proposal and application of new quantitative methods. However, there are still shortcomings, such as the lack of uniform standards for the selection of functional indicators in EMF research, insufficient attention to belowground microbial diversity, and less research on biological interactions in addition to biodiversity. In the future, we need to enhance standard research on the selection of functional indicators, thoroughly assess the combined effects of aboveground and belowground biodiversity along with abiotic factors on EMF, and bolster the research and application of ecosystem multiserviceability (EMS) methods.

Humans have made tremendous efforts to explore how biodiversity changes affect ecosystem processes and human well-being. It has been found that, in addition to biodiversity, various drivers of global change also play significant roles in ecosystem functioning. Land use is a key driver of global change, yet research on land use intensity has predominantly focused on agricultural and grassland ecosystems. There remains limited understanding of how land use intensity alters the relationships among biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and multifunctionality, particularly in forest ecosystems. This paper reviews recent advances in research on soil ecosystem multifunctionality, covering the effects of woodland use intensity, above- and belowground biodiversity, microbial diversity, and biotic interactions, as well as abiotic drivers. Through a comprehensive analysis of the integrated impacts of biodiversity, biotic interactions, and abiotic factors on soil ecosystem multifunctionality, the necessity of enhancing microbial research and its application in ecosystems is emphasized, providing a theoretical basis for forest management.