Sustainable Management of Natural Resources

Outcome

area of [specify the resource] under sustainable management practices

This indicator measures the area of natural resources, such as land, forests, water bodies, or coastal areas, where sustainable management practices have been effectively introduced or strengthened with project support.

Determine the indicator's value by using the following methodology:

 

1) Define the resource and the criteria for sustainable management. Identify the resource type(s) you will measure (e.g. farmland, forests, riverbanks, mangroves) and agree on clear criteria for determining whether an area is “sustainably managed.” Criteria may differ by resource type. You may use a simple 1-4 scoring scale or another decision rule, depending on your context and available expertise. If using a scale, define which scores count as “sustainably managed”. Example of 1-4 scale:

• not sustainably managed

• partially managed

• mostly sustainably managed

• fully sustainably managed

 

2) Decide how each area will be assessed. Determine the methodology your team will use to judge whether an area is sustainably managed. This may include a combination of:

• review of existing data and evidence;

• interviews with credible informants (e.g. local authorities, community members, extension workers);

• field visits or transect walks using observations-based checklist.

Prepare the required data collection tools and train the survey team - ideally including Natural Resource Management (NRM) specialists. Ensure that local community representatives and resource managers are actively involved in the assessment process. These may include, farmer group leaders, forest guards, water-user committee members, or coastal ecosystem stewards. If NRM specialists are not available, use simplified, clearly defined observation checklists aligned with the agreed criteria, and validate findings through community representatives, local resource managers, and triangulation across multiple sources. In such cases, focus on observable practices rather than technical performance.

 

3) Compile the list of areas to assess. Use available documents and maps and key informant interviews to develop a complete list of areas where sustainable management practices have been introduced or strengthened through project support. Cross-check information from different sources to fill gaps and avoid duplicate sites. Where different stakeholders use varying definitions or boundaries for areas or resources, resolve discrepancies through community validation meetings, agreed mapping exercises, or joint review with local authorities.

 

4) Verify each area against the agreed criteria. Use the methods you decided on in step 2 to assess each area using criteria you defined in step 1. Record why each area was or wasn’t considered sustainably managed.

 

5) Measure the total area under sustainable management. Using appropriate methods (e.g., existing maps, GPS coordinates, GIS tools, remote sensing, or community-validated estimates), measure the area of all sites that meet the sustainability criteria.

 

6) To calculate the indicator’s value, sum up the area of all sites classified as “sustainably managed.” Report total area, and where relevant, also report the change since baseline.

Disaggregate the data by resource type, management action (conserved, restored, newly managed) and location.

1) Do not rely on interviews or group discussions alone. Field verification or direct evidence is essential.

 

2) Transect walks should ideally be conducted by specialists capable of recognising whether the main criteria are being met. Where this is not feasible, trained enumerators may conduct walks using simplified criteria and checklists, with validation from knowledgeable local resource managers or authorities.

 

3) The indicator can cover both community areas and privately owned resources, provided that sustainable management practices are observable and relevant to disaster and climate risk reduction.

 

4) In some contexts, ownership or access to land and natural resources may be influenced by social, cultural, or economic factors such as customary tenure, marginalisation, or power imbalances. These dynamics should be considered when planning assessments and interpreting results, particularly to avoid under-representing vulnerable groups or informal resource users.

 

5) The data should be collected for all the at-risk or affected areas of the resource regardless of administrative boundaries or ownership.

 

6) If feasible, report the total managed area and the difference compared to the baseline (increase / decrease).

 

7) Where possible, convert results into spatial formats (GIS) for mapping and validation.

 

8) DG INTPA uses a similar indicator in the Global Europe Results Framework: “Agricultural and pastoral ecosystems where sustainable management practices have been introduced with EU support (ha)”.