Over the past two years, ISEAL have been convening a group of Landscape and Jurisdictional Approaches (LJA) practitioners to investigate areas of measurement and monitoring at scale. In this blog post, we'll explore significant outcomes and insights from the workstream, offering a glimpse into the transformative tools and insights driving LJA efforts worldwide. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner, or a curious newcomer, the resources below will guide you through the current complexities of LJA Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) contexts and offer pathways towards meaningful conservation action.
Alongside this blog, we urge readers to refer to the latest shared position papers from a sister working group focused on broader operational considerations for companies engaging with landscape and jurisdictional approaches. These papers delve into common definitions, such as what qualifies as a company landscape investment or action, how companies can make credible claims regarding their contributions to landscapes, and the responsibilities they bear in supporting landscape monitoring efforts.
Charting the course: the state of measurement
Our tour of resources begins with a through overview of the discussion of the current state of measurement in landscape and jurisdictional initiatives, as shared by participants. Within it we present the most prominent challenges faced by LJA practitioners, current strategies for overcoming them as well as illustrative case studies. Drawing on shared resources and collective wisdom, we chart a course towards enhanced measurement and monitoring practices, fostering resilience and sustainability in our shared landscapes.
Download the state of measurement paper here
Practitioner primers
Through the convening, it became evident that practitioners would benefit from more focused guidance on priority areas. These areas were identified as foundational approaches for biodiversity and nature conservation at scale, understanding income over a landscape, and routes for meaningful engagement with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) in LJA projects. Members of the group expressed varying levels of interest in these areas, ranging from a desire for detailed guidance on implementation and resource planning to a need for a more general understanding of available methods, resulting in a range of primer types.
Getting a picture of biodiversity
The most mature are of many landscape projects is often their approach to the physical environment, however it is still difficult to understand where to invest resources to get an accurate picture of issues in a region, leaving many practitioners unsure.
This primer, authored by Proforest, serves as a compass, guiding practitioners through three approaches that are foundational for any understanding of the physical condition of a landscape: High Conservation Value Area (HCVA) screening and assessment; Land Use Land Cover Change (LULCC) analysis; and status of effective management for protected areas. With insights into required capacities, and the essential resources that implementers must have available, this primer empowers teams to embark on their conservation journeys equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge.
Understanding income in producing regions
Shifting the focus to social aspects, many practitioners have been pursuing income and wealth as a primary concern. This is not surprising, considering the significance of these issues in the commitments made by various corporations investing in landscape projects. Wealth and income are additionally affected by numerous off-site factors making them ideal candidates for a more systematic approach.
This primer, authored by Jessica Grillo, illuminates the various methods used to understand income dynamics, providing practitioners with a roadmap for exploration. While not prescribing implementation strategies, the primer equips teams with the foundational understanding needed to navigate economic dimensions of conservation projects.
Scaling Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC): Indigenous People and Local Communities (LP&LC) in landscape and jurisdictional initiatives
Navigating landscapes, the issue of meaningful engagement with IP&LCs is unavoidable, however, it can be tough to make the necessary resources or appropriate engagement strategies available. This primer introduces FPIC as an essential aspect of conservation, presenting practitioners with an initial understanding and business case for when and to what extent it should be integrated into LJA initiatives. By fostering informed decision-making, it empowers stakeholders to navigate FPIC considerations at scale, responsibly.
Piloting progress: Learnings from three unique projects
Our tour of resources culminates with reflections on the diverse experiences and valuable lessons learned from three pilot projects that ran between February 2023 and April 2024. Firstly, in Mongolia, the Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA) probe the intricacies of building a MEL framework tailored to the sprawling rangeland ecosystem, with a focus on biodiversity and nature indicators. Next, CNV Internationaal delve into the realm of social dialogues and the practicalities of measuring both its quality and quantity in the vibrant mosaic of the Siak Pelalawan Landscape Project (SPLP), Indonesia. Finally, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), reassesses two destinations in Europe and East Asia, to understand how processes and indicators can be refined to better capture the evolution of a landscape over time.
Find the full pilot learning summary report here
By distilling key insights and tools, we aim to empower practitioners with the knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of landscape and jurisdictional conservation effectively. However, we will be continuing to work on these approaches and encourage readers and practitioners to get in touch to share their work and experiences. If you have questions or an initiative you'd like to share, please contact landscapes@isealalliance.org.
