Understanding and predicting the distribution of life on Earth represent major research tasks in the face of global environmental change. These tasks often require the integration and analysis of big and diverse datasets that reflect properties of wild organisms and their abiotic environment across space. I will demonstrate the use of geospatial free and open-source technologies for exploring, analysing and predicting biodiversity patterns across the globe, focusing primarily on the geography and drivers of genetic diversity in terrestrial mammals. I will also stress the importance of data sharing in nature conservation through interactive visualisation frameworks.