Climate change, deforestation and biodiversity loss remain critical and complex challenges that cannot be addressed solely on a farm by farm or enterprise by enterprise basis. Landscape and jurisdictional approaches have emerged as a solution. 

They recognise the importance of tackling key sustainability challenges at a landscape or jurisdictional scale, working holistically across environmental, social and economic factors and operating collaboratively with local stakeholders taking aligned action towards common goals.

ISEAL’s work on landscape and jurisdictions

ISEAL and our membership have long recognised that complex sustainability issues require holistic, collaborative solutions. This work is complementary to existing supply chain focused tools for tackling sustainability issues, like sustainability standards and certification. Sustainability systems also have an innovative role to play in supporting landscape scale action. They are well placed to contribute to a landscape or region's sustainability, as they often address a range of issues that have implications for the wider landscape. These include high conservation value assessments, GHG emissions measurements, and the management of water resources.

More broadly, ISEAL convene key actors working on landscape or jurisdictional approaches, both within and beyond our membership, to align on and share good practice to improve the effectiveness and credibility of operating at this scale. Together, we provide organisations working on or investing in landscape initiatives, with accessible and consistent guidance for taking effective action in landscape and jurisdictions, monitoring progress and making credible claims.