Identify relevant impacts and dependencies
This step involves the evaluation and prioritization of relevant (to the objective, cf. "Identify question/ theme/ objective") impacts and dependencies, and deciding which ones to measure and value in the next steps. Impacts refer to the ways in which policies, actions, or decisions affect ecosystems and provided services, while dependencies refer to the ways in which people, organisations, or systems rely on ecosystems and its services. An impact or dependency on ecosystems is relevant if its consideration has the potential to alter that decision (adapted from Capitals Coalition 2021/ OECD 2015 and IIRC 2013). Commonly, impacts or dependencies posing significant risks or offering opportunities (cf. "Identify risks and opportunities") would rank as relevant. Different value perspectives—ecological, economic, social, and cultural—can be applied to guide prioritisation, depending on the assessment’s purpose. The outputs of this step help to narrow down which ecosystem-related topics are most critical to assess in detail in subsequent steps, including ecosystem condition and services.
SELINA Guidance
Relevant non-SELINA material
Justice
Link to Justice
Justice is critical at this stage because impacts and dependencies vary widely: some groups face greater vulnerabilities, while others contribute through stewardship and sustainable practices. Recognising these differences is essential to avoid biased or incomplete assessments.
Dimensions addressed
Recognitional: acknowledge diverse relationships to ecosystems, including vulnerabilities and positive stewardship roles (e.g. community practices).
Participatory: give stakeholders a meaningful role in identifying impacts and dependencies; integrate local knowledge.
Distributive: assess how different groups benefit or are burdened by ecosystem changes, access, or services.
Contextual: consider historical and socio-political factors shaping vulnerabilities, capacities, and dependencies.
Why this matters
Stakeholder Engagement
Engage different stakeholders to define the most important impacts they perceive (uses, dependencies, negative impacts, etc.); Formats: Workshops, survey, interviews
Crosslink toTNFD’s LEAP Framework
Links to L2 (dependency and impact screening). The LEAP framework here specifically highlights the moderate/high dependencies on nature (in relation to the ENCORE tool). Because it focuses only on moderate/large impacts/dependencies, it only partly 'completes' this step.