State of Nature - TNFD Framework Scan

The TNFD Framework Scan identifies sites that are ecologically sensitive based on TNFD’s criteria. A site is considered ecologically sensitive if it is located in:

  • Areas important for biodiversity,
  • Areas of high ecosystem integrity,
  • Areas of rapid decline in ecosystem integrity,
  • Areas of high physical water risks, or
  • Areas of importance for ecosystem services

If a site meets any of these criteria, it is classified as ecologically sensitive.

Criteria

Relevance

Methodology

High Biodiversity Importance

Areas of

biodiversity importance

include areas which are protected, scientifically recognized for their relevance or important for threatened species and ecosystems.

High Biodiversity Importance is determined using Nala's

Biodiversity Importance

indicator. Proximity is defined by an activity-based radius ranging from 1 to 50 km. If activity data is unavailable, a default radius of 5 km is applied. Sites with BSAs within the specified radius are flagged as having High Biodiversity Importance.

In the dashboard view, the total number of sites with High Biodiversity Importance is summed across all sites.

High Ecosystem Integrity

Ecosystem Integrity

refers to the intactness of an ecosystem's composition, structure, and function. Areas with high ecosystem integrity offer opportunities to preserve and maintain intact nature.

High Ecosystem Integrity is determined using Nala's

Biodiversity Intactness

indicator. Sites with

High

or

Very High

Biodiversity Intactness are flagged as having High Ecosystem Integrity.

In the dashboard view, the total number of sites with High Ecosystem Integrity is summed across all sites.

Decline Ecosystem Integrity

Areas with

rapid decline in ecosystem integrity

represent areas with declining resilience of ecosystem service provision and potentially high exposure to dependency-related nature risks.

Decline in Ecosystem Integrity is determined using Nala's

Loss of Natural Land

and

Tree Cover Loss

indicators. Sites with

High

or

Very High

Loss of Natural Land or Tree Cover Loss are flagged as experiencing Decline in Ecosystem Integrity.

In the dashboard view, the total number of sites with Decline in Ecosystem Integrity is summed across all sites.

High Physical Water Risk

Areas of

high physical water risk

includes areas with limited water availability.

High Physical Water Risk is determined using Nala's

Water Scarcity

indicators. Sites with

High

or

Very High

Water Scarcity are flagged as having High Physical Water Risk.

In the dashboard view, the total number of sites with High Physical Water Risk is summed across all sites.

Water pollution indicators are currently not included in the TNFD framework scan until the existing nutrient-focused indicators are complemented with more comprehensive and reliable water pollution metrics.

High Ecosystem Service Importance

Areas of

high ecosystem service importance

includes areas in which healthy ecosystems and biodiversity support local livelihoods, areas in which biodiversity and ecosystem services are important for the realization of human rights, areas that have been traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used and/or acquired by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, and areas of biocultural importance to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.

This criteria is currently not covered by Nala’s State of Nature platform and will be added in near future.