State of Nature Indicators - Overview

This article provides an overview of all the nature indicators that are provided in the State of Nature module. The modular structure of Nala’s State of Nature Module allows for the addition of new nature indicators as they become available. New indicators will be added over time.

Land degradation

The aspect Land Degradation covers nature indicators that estimate the loss in quality and productivity of land. Higher loss means higher concern. In the current version the concern level for Land Degradation is based on two indicators: Tree Cover Loss and Land Cover - Loss of Natural Area.

Note: The Loss of Ecosystem Function indicator requires a methodological update before it can be reliably integrated to the overall categorization of Land Degradation.

Tree Cover Loss

Tree Cover Loss tracks changes in forest cover over time since the year 2000. Based on satellite imagery, it identifies areas where tree cover has been lost.

The table below summarises key information for the Tree Cover Loss indicator. For more details, please see the full indicator documentation.

Data Type	Multispectral analysis of satellite imagery
Source	Collaboration between Global Land Analysis & Discovery lab Google, USGS, and NASA
Spatial Resolution	30 x 30 meters
Temporal Resolution	Annual updates
Interpretation	The area within the site boundary (or a 300m default radius around site coordinates) is screened for the occurrence of tree cover loss.
Concern Levels	Very Low = No Tree Cover Loss detected Low = Tree Cover Loss between 2001 and 2010 Moderate = Tree Cover Loss between 2011 and 2020 High = Tree Cover Loss between 2021 and 2023 Very High = Tree Cover Loss in 2024
Framework Relevance	Tree cover loss is relevant under CSRD (ESRS E4) as well as under TNFD.

Land Cover - Loss of Natural Area

Land Cover - Loss of Natural Area provides an overview of the land cover types around an assessed site for a given year as well as an estimate of how much natural land has been lost around the site over time.

For more detailed information on Land Cover - Loss of Natural Area, please see the full indicator documentation.

Data Type	High-resolution land use map based on satellite imagery and AI-powered land classification models
Source	ESRI
Spatial Resolution	10m x 10m
Temporal Resolution	Annual updates
Interpretation	The site area is screened for the the loss of natural area since 2020. The indicators concern level indicates how concerning the extent of lost natural area is. Furthermore, the indicator enables the visual and quantitative analysis of what land cover types occur at the assessed site and how land cover has changed over time.
Concern Levels	Very Low = No loss of natural area since 2020 Low = Minor loss of natural area since 2020 (less than 0.016%) Moderate = Moderate loss of natural area since 2020 (between 0.016% and 0.58%) High = Strong loss of natural area since 2020 (between 0.58% and 3.73%) Very High = Very strong loss of natural area since 2020 (more than 3.73%)
Framework Relevance	Land Cover - Loss of Natural Area is relevant under CSRD (ESRS E4) as well as under TNFD and SBTN.

Water Scarcity

The aspect Water Scarcity covers nature indicators that estimate the scarcity of available freshwater in the local river basin. More severe scarcity means higher concern. The concern level for Water Scarcity is based on the highest score among the underlying indicators.

Baseline Water Stress

Baseline Water Stress estimates how much of the available freshwater in a river basin is used (consumption & withdrawal) by homes, industries, irrigation and livestock.

For more detailed information on Baseline Water Stress, please see the full indicator documentation.

Data Type	Modelled data based on a global hydrological model
Source	World Resource Institute
Spatial Resolution	Spatially explicit to river basins (HydroBASINS level 6)
Temporal Resolution	Based on data for the years 1979-2019. Last update from 2023.
Interpretation	The Baseline Water Stress indicator translates the raw value (%) into a 0-10 score based thresholds established by scientific literature.
Concern Levels	Very Low = Score 0 - 2 Low = Score 2 - 4 Moderate = Score 4 - 6 High = Score 6 - 8 Very High = 8 - 10
Framework Relevance	Baseline Water Stress is relevant under CSRD (ESRS E2 and ESRS E3) as well as under TNFD and SBTN.

Water Depletion

Water Depletion estimates how much of the available freshwater in a river basin is used and not returned to the environment (consumption) by homes, industries, irrigation and livestock.

For more detailed information on Water Depletion, please see the full indicator documentation.

Data Type	Modelled data based on a global hydrological model
Source	Brauman et al. (2016)
Spatial Resolution	Spatially explicit to river basins (HydroBASINS level 6)
Temporal Resolution	Based on data for the years 1971-2000. Official updates to be confirmed.
Interpretation	The Water Depletion indicator translates the raw values (%) into a 0-10 score based thresholds established by scientific literature. The categorization also accounts for temporal variation in water depletion such as seasonal or interannual dryness.
Concern Level	Very Low = Score 0 - 2 Low = Score 2 - 4 Moderate = Score 4 - 6 High = Score 6 - 8 Very High = 8 - 10
Framework Relevance	Water Depletion is relevant under CSRD (ESRS E2 and ESRS E3) as well as under TNFD and SBTN.

Blue Water Scarcity

Blue Water Scarcity estimates how much of the available freshwater in a region is used and not returned to the environment (consumption). Water consumption is not solely modelled but based on historical national water footprint data.

For more detailed information on Blue Water Scarcity, please see the full indicator documentation.

Data Type	Modelled based on historic water footprint data and observed and modelled water balance data
Source	Mekonnen & Hoekstra (2016)
Spatial Resolution	Spatially explicit to river basins (HydroBASINS level 6)
Temporal Resolution	Based on data for the years 1996-2005. Official updates to be confirmed.
Interpretation	The Blue Water Scarcity score translates the raw values (%) into a 0-10 risk categorization based thresholds established by scientific literature.
Concern Level	Very Low = Score 0 - 2 Low = Score 2 - 4 Moderate = Score 4 - 6 High = Score 6 - 8 Very High = 8 - 10
Framework Relevance	Blue Water Scarcity is relevant under CSRD (ESRS E2 and ESRS E3) as well as under TNFD and SBTN.

Water Pollution

The aspect Water Pollution covers nature indicators that estimate the level of nutrient pollution in the local river basin. More severe pollution means higher concern. The concern level for Water Pollution is based on the highest score among the underlying indicators.

Coastal Eutrophication Potential

Coastal Eutrophication Potential (CEP) estimates the risk of excess nitrogen and phosphorus in rivers leading to coastal eutrophication. Eutrophication causes harmful algal blooms and ecological imbalances.

For more detailed information on Coastal Eutrophication Potential, please see the full indicator documentation.

Data Type	Data based on global model of nutrient exports by rivers
Source	World Resource Institute
Spatial Resolution	Spatially explicit to river basins (HydroBASINS level 6)
Temporal Resolution	Based on hydrological modelling representing baseline values for the year 2000. Official updates to be confirmed.
Interpretation	The raw CEP indicator is expressed in kilograms of carbon per square kilometer of river basin area per day. The raw values are categorized into a 0-10 score based on thresholds established by scientific literature.
Concern Level	Very Low = Score 0 - 2 Low = Score 2 - 4 Moderate = Score 4 - 6 High = Score 6 - 8 Very High = 8 - 10
Framework Relevance	CEP is relevant under CSRD (ESRS E2 and ESRS E3) as well as under TNFD and SBTN.

Nitrate-Nitrite Concentration

Nitrate (NO₃-) and Nitrite (NO₂-) Concentration estimates nutrient pollution levels in freshwater. Elevated levels can lead to eutrophication and cause harmful algal blooms and ecological imbalances.

For more detailed information on Nitrate-Nitrite Concentration, please see the full indicator documentation.

Data Type	Combination of monitoring data and a machine learning modelling
Source	Damania et al. (2019)
Spatial Resolution	Spatially explicit to river basins (HydroBASINS level 6)
Temporal Resolution	Based on predicted values for the years between 2006 and 2010, i.e. the last 5 years of available data. Official updates to be confirmed.
Interpretation	The Nitrate-Nitrite concentration value are expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/l) , The raw values are categorized into a 0-10 score based on thresholds established by scientific literature.
Concern Level	Very Low = Score 0 - 2 Low = Score 2 - 4 Moderate = Score 4 - 6 High = Score 6 - 8 Very High = 8 - 10
Framework Relevance	Nitrate-Nitrite Concentration is relevant under CSRD (ESRS E2 and ESRS E3) as well as under TNFD and SBTN.

Periphyton Growth Potential

Periphyton Growth Potential estimates the risk of periphyton (algae and microorganisms) growth in a river basin based on high nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. Excessive growth can cause ecological imbalances.

For more detailed information on Periphyton Growth Potential, please see the full indicator documentation.

Data Type	Combination of monitoring data and modelling approach
Source	McDowell et al (2020)
Spatial Resolution	Spatially explicit to river basins (HydroBASINS level 6)
Temporal Resolution	Based on monitoring data between 1990 and 2016. Official updates to be confirmed.
Interpretation	The periphyton growth potential is estimated based on the concentration and ratio of nitrogen and phosphorous in local waters. The combination of concentration and ratio values are categorized into a 0-10 score based on thresholds established by scientific literature.
Concern Level	Very Low = Score 0 - 2 Low = Score 2 - 4 Moderate = Score 4 - 6 High = Score 6 - 8 Very High = 8 - 10
Framework Relevance	Periphyton Growth Potential is relevant under CSRD (ESRS E2 and ESRS E3) as well as under TNFD and SBTN.

Biodiversity Importance

The aspect Biodiversity Importance screens for biodiversity-sensitive areas (BSA) within the proximity of the site. Closer biodiversity-sensitive areas mean higher concern level.

The radius used to determine whether a site is in proximity to BSAs is generally controlled by the activities associated with the site, unless you use a custom radius. For more information which radius is applied to BSA analysis, please see the detailed methodology documentation.

Nala checks each site for proximity to the following five BSA types:

Protected Areas Natura 2000: Natura 2000 is a European initiative aimed at safeguarding biodiversity through a network of legally protected areas. More details on this dataset can be found here.
Unesco World Heritage Sites: UNESCO World Heritage Sites are areas internationally recognized as being of exceptional value. Nala includes Natural and Mixed UNESCO sites that are recognized for their natural significance. More details on this dataset can be found here.
Ramsar Wetlands Sites: Ramsar Wetland Sites are designated wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, recognized for their significance in supporting biodiversity, regulating water cycles, and providing ecosystem services. More details on this dataset can be found here.
Critical Habitats: The Critical Habitat data provided by UNEP WCMC is based on 12 global datasets (incl. data on key biodiversity areas) to identify areas with high biodiversity conservation significance. More details on this dataset can be found here.
Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs): SACs and SPAs are UK site-based designations that protect threatened habitats (SACs) and wild birds (SPAs). Together, they form the UK's contribution to the national site network, previously part of the EU's Natura 2000 network. More details on this dataset can be found here.

Please note that the same biodiversity-sensitive area can have multiple official designations, which is why the same area name may appear under different BSA categories in Nala. For example, a Ramsar Site may also be part of a Natura 2000 area or a Natura 2000 area may be protected under both the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive. Because each designation has a different legal meaning, Nala shows all applicable designations separately which can result in the same area name beign featured multiple times in the list of nearby biodiversity-sensitive areas.

Biodiversity Intactness

The aspect Biodiversity Intactness covers nature indicators that estimate the condition of local biodiversity at ecosystem and species level. Better condition means higher concern level because of a higher potential for biodiversity loss. Note, that this interpretation differs from the other aspects of nature, where a higher level nature loss (in the form of scarce or polluted water or degraded land) indicates a higher level of concern. By combining the two different perspectives, this methodology highlights concerns both based on past nature loss as well as based on the potential of future nature and biodiversity loss, perspective suggested by standards for corporate nature management, particularly SBTN and TNFD. The concern level for Biodiversity Intactness is based on the highest score among the Biodiversity Intactness Index and GLOBIO Mean Species Abundance.

Biodiversity Intactness Index

The Biodiversity Intactness Index (BII) estimates the condition of local biodiversity. The index is based on a global model that infers biodiversity intactness from data on human activities including different land uses, resource extraction and other pressures.

For more detailed information on the Biodiversity Intactness Index, please see the full indicator documentation.

Data Type	Ecological modelling and remote sensing data on pressures
Source	Gassert et al. (2022)
Spatial Resolution	100m
Temporal Resolution	The BII data is available for the years 2017-2020. Updates are expected regularly.
Interpretation	The BII estimates how intact an area's biodiversity is compared to a reference area unaffected by human pressures. For example, a BII score of 5.3 indicates that at this location only 53% of the biodiversity present in an undisturbed reference area remains.
Concern Level	Very Low = Score 0 - 2 Low = Score 2 - 4 Moderate = Score 4 - 6 High = Score 6 - 8 Very High = Score 8 - 10
Framework Relevance	BII is relevant under CSRD (ESRS E4) as well as under TNFD and SBTN.

GLOBIO Mean Species Abundance

Mean Species Abundance (MSA) estimates the condition of local biodiversity. The indicator is based on the GLOBIO model which estimates species abundance based on human activity data like land use, road disturbance, and climate change.

For more detailed information on GLOBIO Mean Species Abundance, please see the full indicator documentation.

Data Type	Ecological modelling and land use data
Source	Netherland Environmental Assessment Agency
Spatial Resolution	10-arc-seconds (~300m x 300m at the equator)
Temporal Resolution	The GLOBIO MSA data is available for several years, with the most recent data from 2015 (2020 coming soon).
Interpretation	The MSA estimates the condition of an area's biodiversity compared to a reference area unaffected by human pressures. For example, a MSA score of 4.1 indicates that at this location only 41% of the species abundance present in an undisturbed reference area remains.
Concern Level	Very Low = Score 0 - 2 Low = Score 2 - 4 Moderate = Score 4 - 6 High = Score 6 - 8 Very High = Score 8 - 10
Framework Relevance	MSA is relevant under CSRD (ESRS E4) as well as under TNFD and SBTN.

Ecoregions

Ecoregions are extensive land areas defined by their distinct ecosystems, environmental characteristics, and species. The 846 global ecoregions are identified based on similarities in temperature, precipitation, and geology, reflecting the natural communities before significant land-use changes.

For more detailed information on Ecoregions, please see the full indicator documentation.

Data Type	Polygons of ecoregions
Source	Dinerstein et al. (2017)
Spatial Resolution	Spatially explicit
Temporal Resolution	No updates required
Interpretation	Ecoregion data is not directly used as a State of Nature indicator. Ecoregion data is used to ensure ecologically relevant interpretations of other indicators.
Concern Level	No concern levels directly associated with ecoregions.
Framework Relevance	Ecoregion data is relevant for contextual information under CSRD (ESRS E4) as well as under TNFD.