Implement
This step involves executing the actions, policies, or strategies that were informed by the assessment (cf. "Adopt results (in public and private decision-making)") —such as land-use changes, restoration measures, conservation programs, or business operations. Implementation may occur through government plans, private sector initiatives, or multi-stakeholder partnerships. It might require translating assessment findings and developed strategies into operational activities, allocating resources, setting timelines, and managing practical delivery. Thereby it is of relevance to implement solutions in a way that they contribute to transformative change and foster systemic resilience.
SELINA Guidance
Relevant non-SELINA material
Justice
Link to Justice
Justice matters because implementation determines who carries out the work, who benefits, and who is left out. Poorly designed implementation can reinforce disparities.
Dimensions addressed
Recognitional: respect diverse relationships with ecosystems (subsistence, cultural, spiritual) in how actions are implemented.
Participatory: favour participatory or community-led models; strengthen informal governance where relevant.
Distributive: prioritise benefits for historically marginalised groups, particularly those most affected by environmental burdens.
Contextual: adapt implementation to community capacities and socio-political conditions; avoid one-size-fits-all approaches.
Why this matters
Ensures justice principles are lived in practice, not just design.
Supports long-term sustainability by embedding equity into action.
Builds local ownership and empowerment.