The LEAP Nature Risk Assessment Approach: E1: Identification of relevant environmental assets and ecosystem services by priority location
E1: Identification of relevant environmental assets and ecosystem services by priority location
Guiding Questions: What is the nature of our business processes and activities at each priority location? What environmental assets and ecosystem services do we have a dependency or impact on at each priority location?
Identify the specific relevant environmental assets and ecosystem services
Organisations will have an in depth understanding of their business operations at each location where they have direct operations. For LEAP assessments that include the consideration of upstream and downstream locations of significance (identified in the Locate phase), it may be necessary to speak to suppliers and customers to have a deeper understanding of their business operations in those identified locations and identify the environmental assets and ecosystem services that determine the nature-related dependencies and nature impacts of relevance to the organisation.
The lists of environmental assets and ecosystem services outlined in the tables below provide a starting point for this analysis, although each specific location will have its unique characteristics and relevance to the specific business processes of the organisation. The following tables provide a summary list of types of environmental asset and ecosystem services with links to further contextual information for each, based on the UN SEEA Ecosystem Accounting and IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology.
Using these lists as a guide and based on discussions with line/site managers, suppliers (upstream) and customers (downstream), analysts working their way through the LEAP approach might want to create a simple checklist of relevant environmental assets and ecosystem services at each location being evaluated.
Additional Content
Useful Tools and Platforms
The following tools and platforms have been carefully selected by the TNFD to help support you in completing this phase of the LEAP process.
EcondLive
Accounting for Nature® is a global environmental accounting framework for measuring, monitoring, certifying and reporting the condition of environmental assets over time. The framework relies on summarising complex scientific information into a single metric – the Econd® to describe the condition of each asset as a score from 0-100 (100 being reference condition).
NatureAlpha Nature Accounting platformLive
Provider of scaled asset-level biodiversity decision-support analytics for investors & capital markets, our insights & nature accounting platforms give asset managers, asset owners, and sustainability professionals consistent, science-based data for compliance and analysis, enabling investors to support a sustainable future for the natural world.
The NatureAlpha Nature Accounting platform was designed to help users overcome the challenge of reporting at the climate-nature nexus. Whether you’re a financial institution, company or sustainability analysts, nature accounting reports are made easy.
EmapperLive
Emapper is is an ecological restoration platform that uses data from UAV, satellite, manned aircraft, IoT sensors and our mobile field application to Identify, Monitor, Manage, Offset and Restore natural habitats and biodiversity values.
SvarmiLive
Digital Nature Inventory Platform, identifying and quantifying protected and invasive plant and tree species
inVestLive
Tools and data for mapping and quantifying natural capital and ecosystem services, including the InVEST software
Co$tingNatureLive
Co$tingNature is a sophisticated web-based spatial policy support system for natural capital accounting and analysing the ecosystem services provided by natural environments (i.e. nature’s benefits) since 2007. It is widely used (>3500 orgs in >180 countries), open access, web-based, multi-resolution and globally applicable with all required data built in.
natcap MapLive
Map that Measure the natural capital on your land and identify opportunities for enhancement instantly with unrivalled scientific accuracy.
LandGriffonLive
LandGriffon helps companies strategize the sustainable transformation of their supply chains by using technology, science-based data and scientific analysis to manage environmental impacts.
Corporate Biodiversity FootprintLive
ICEBERG DATA LAB has developed the Corporate Biodiversity Footprint, which is a tool to calculate the biodiversity footprint of issuers of financial instruments, allowing the Financial Institutions to measure and manage their indirect impact.
SightLive
A global intelligence platform which aims to provide an up-to-date high-level understanding of what’s happening on the ground.
Chloris Geospatial is a spacetech remote-sensing company measuring natural capital. We currently focus on above-ground biomass. We measure carbon stock and change, consistent in time and space and across scales. We are launching our SaaS platform at the end of September 2022 (focused on above-ground biomass). Our services focus on needs of NBS developers, investors and land sector scope 3 reductions and reporting. From 2023 onwards, we foresee to add additional natural capital layers to our products.
Wilder SensingLive
We are developing a cloud based solution to quantify changes to biodiversity at a local or landscape level. Using audio and video sensors we use Machine Learning to identify which species of bird, bat, mammal (and some insects). Over time the data shows changes to both species present/absent/lost and net changes.
FrontierraLive
Frontierra utilizes satellite monitoring to analyse and evaluate deforestation, reforestation and carbon dynamics in soft commodity supply chains. We provide data, reports, and documentation to evidence compliance with legislation and offsetting requirements, assist in corporate sustainability reporting and meet consumer and shareholder expectations and climate change commitments.
HUB Ocean has developed a data platform technology to ensure that user of ocean-related data can access this data and use it through APIs, SDK or other direct applications. We are a not-for-profit foundation funded by WEF and the Aker group.
Aquascope – Water Data and InsightsLive
Water quality monitoring and forecasting for measurement, reporting and verification
Platform creates asset-level metrics from geolocation and point-in-time environmental building blocks, for impact attribution, benchmarking performance, and sustainability risk management.
MapsLive
Global maps of ecological data
J-BMPLive
We create a platform (J-BMP) including biodiversity features and the related ecosystem services (https://biodiversity-map.thinknature-japan.com/en/) to promote spatial conservation planing and assist nature positive actions.
Nature indexLive
Remote sensing og ecosystem extent;composite “nature index” of biodiversity indicators
nSTARLive
Our dashboard quantifies the extinction risk embodied in value chains for our clients, applying the same analytical approach used to quantify scope 3 GHG emissions.
The Land App is an accessible online mapping tool providing context and insight for estate managers, environmental consultants and land agents amongst others, supported by our most detailed dataset, OS MasterMap. The Land App provides a user-friendly interface which lets consumers clearly visualise information, resulting in informed decisions being made with sustainability in mind.
CanopyMapper, CarbonMapper, HabitatMapperLive
Space Intelligence is a climate-tech start-up based in Edinburgh, UK. We use satellite data and AI to provide insight for supporting nature-based solutions and sustainable finance. Our core products are aboveground biomass and landcover maps which support baseline assessment and performance MRV for e.g. the voluntary carbon market.
CDPLive
Key disclosure framework for water and forest impacts for companies and cities
CARE-TDL (Comprehensive Accounting in Respect of Ecology)Live
CARE TDL is an integrated accounting model which attempts to extend the fundamental principle of capital conservation to natural and human capitals.
Species Threat Abatement and Restoration (STAR) metricLive
The STAR* measures the contribution that investments can make to reducing species extinction risk.It can help national and subnational governments, cities, civil society, the finance industry, investors and companies to target their investments and activities to achieve conservation outcomes and contribute to global policy aims.
A methodology to help organisations identify their impacts and design a strategic plan to reduce, mitigate and compensate them, as well as to reduce impacts in the supply chain. LIFE Methodology can be used both as an Environmental Management System and as a third-party Certification Scheme.
An assessment/guidance of needs, current practices and potential indicator models, and a tool that provides a robust and repeatable methodology for selecting biodiversity indicators, including a structured approach to use these indicators for assessing the state of the ecological environment, the pressures on biodiversity and the responses.
Online tool to explore, assess, respond, and value water risk and explore maps, country profiles, and stories made by WWF, reports.
GeofootprintLive
Combines data from satellite imagery with environmental metrics to visualize and simulate the environmental footprints of key commodity crops on an interactive world map.
Good Practice Guidance for Mining and BiodiversityLive
The Good Practice Guidance For Mining and Biodiversity has been created for mining professionals to improve biodiversity management throughout the mining cycle/value chain and understand the connections between their activities, and biodiversity.
GloBioLive
The GLOBIO model is designed to inform and support policy-makers by quantifying global human impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems.GLOBIO can be used to quantify various policy-relevant dimensions of human-nature interactions, including ecosystem services and biodiversity impacts.
Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP)Live
The Water Evaluation and Planning system, or WEAP, aims to incorporate the interrelated issues of water supply, demand, quality, and ecology into a practical yet robust tool for integrated water resources planning. WEAP provides a system for maintaining water demand and supply information and simulates water demand, supply, flows and storage, pollution generation, treatment and discharge.
WaterWorldLive
A scenario testing tool for the development and implementation of land and water related policies for sites and regions globally. The tool can help understand the hydrological and water resources baseline and water risk factors associated with specific activities under current conditions and under scenarios for land use, land management and climate change.
SoilGridsLive
Global soil profile information and covariate data to model the spatial distribution of soil properties across the globe.
Responsible Alternate Fibres: Assessment MethodologyLive
A tool to assess the major environmental and social issues associated with production of unconventional plants grown as feedstock for pulp and paper applications, designed to be a near-exhaustive list of impact areas not captured under a LCA to help investors and producers understand the breadth of potential risks and manage uncertainties.
GMAP ToolLive
GMAP provides country and commodity-level evaluation of environmental and social risks associated with agro—commodity primary production.
Local Biodiversity Intactness IndexLive
The Local Biodiversity index provides estimates of human impacts on the intactness of local biodiversity worldwide, and how this may change over time. Because LBII relates to site-level biodiversity, it can be averaged and reported for any larger spatial scale (e.g., countries, biodiversity hotspots or biomes as well as globally) without additional assumptions.
RepRisk, an ESG data science firm, leverages the combination of AI and machine learning with human intelligence to sytematically analyze public information in 23 languages and identify material ESG risks. With daily data updates across 100+ ESG risk factors, RepRisk provides consistent, timely, and actionable data for risk management and ESG integration across a company’s operations, business relationships, and investments.
India Water ToolLive
Specific to India, this geospatial tool provides access to water- related datasets and risk indicators.
Environmental Justice AtlasLive
Can be used to map socio- environmental conflicts, and understand key socio- environmental risks related to commodity production in specific regions.
Starling satellite imageryLive
Satellite imagery tool to support supply chain impact assessments on deforestation.
Geospatial AI data that enables remote monitoring of water infrastructure and water catchment areas, water quality, pipeline risk etc. Aside from Water, there are also datasets available for Forestry, Agriculture and Energy.
Geospatial tool to identify and assess natural hazard risk, including the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services ( BES) index.
RBA Country Risk Assessment ToolLive
Identify inherent risks within supply chains.
SEDEX RADAR ToolLive
Identify inherent risks within supply chains, including Water and 13 other potential issues, based on geography and sector.
Geospatial data layers on forest tenure, land and corruption, forest landscape restoration and indigenous and community land rights.
Science- Based Targets for NatureLive
The SBT for Nature guidance provides sector and sub- industry guidance on identification of direction operation and wider value chain impacts. Note that the guidance for SBT for Nature is currently in consultation and will be updated over time.