Define boundaries
Boundaries should be informed by and aligned with the previously identified objective(s) as well as relevant impacts and dependencies (cf. "Identify question/ theme/ objective" and "Identify relevant impacts and dependencies"), and may be refined iteratively as the assessment progresses. This step involves identifying and explaining the limits and interactions within a specific system or study, as well as reflecting on the broader social, economic, and cultural contexts that shape transformative change. It helps to clarify e.g. the geographic focus (e.g. municipality, region, country), the timeframe (e.g. historical trends, current state, future scenarios, or a reference year), the relevant social groups and their plural values, as well as the biophysical characteristics of the ecosystem that are relevant for the assessment (a.o. selection of relevant ecosystem type(s)). It involves identifying which components of the ecosystem assessment are relevant in the process.
SELINA Guidance
Relevant non-SELINA material
Justice
Link to Justice
Justice is crucial because the way boundaries are drawn (geographic, social, cultural, temporal, or thematic) determines who and what is included or excluded from the assessment, and whether inequities are revealed or hidden.
Dimensions addressed
Recognitional: ensure boundaries reflect how different groups value, depend on, or interact with ecosystems; consider diverse knowledge and values.
Participatory: involve stakeholders in boundary-setting to avoid dominance of one perspective or culture; co-design boundaries inclusively.
Distributive: check that boundaries do not limit scope in ways that obscure inequalities in access, benefits, or risks related to ecosystems and their services.
Contextual: avoid boundary choices that reinforce systemic disadvantages; account for how historical and structural factors influence who can engage within defined limits.
Why this matters
Boundary-setting has ripple effects across the assessment as it can expand or constrain which issues, groups, and values are addressed.
Legitimacy depends on boundaries that are inclusive and transparent.
Helps prevent marginalisation by making sure risks, opportunities, and dependencies relevant to vulnerable groups are not excluded from scope.
Stakeholder Engagement
Crosslink toTNFD’s LEAP Framework
Links to the spatial scale in L1 (span and business model and value chain) of the direct operations. This defines the location/spatial scale of the assessment.