How to complete the evaluation

The landscape initiative maturity framework is structured around four core criteria, which are further divided into 12 evaluable sub-criteria. Each core criterion contains sub-criteria that are evaluated based on defined requirements to determine how an initiative is progressing within the framework.

Landscape initiatives do not need to meet all sub-criteria to undergo an evaluation. The maturity framework is designed as a roadmap for continuous improvement, allowing initiatives to credibly showcase their current stage of development, while identifying areas for further strengthening over time.

Because progress occurs gradually, meeting a sub-criterion may look different at different stages of maturity. To reflect this, each sub-criterion can be met at three levels of maturity, allowing initiatives to demonstrate and track their progress as they develop over time.

Evaluate a sub-criterion

To begin evaluating a sub-criterion, first navigate to the 'Maturity' section of your profile, where your landscape initiative maturity information is displayed. Ensure the section is in 'Edit Mode.' If it is not, click the dropdown menu and select the correct state.

To begin an evaluation, navigate to the 'Maturity' section and ensure it is in 'Edit Mode.'

Next, navigate to the sub-criterion you want to work on and click on the right arrow to open the accordion containing its corresponding form.

Click on the arrow next to the sub-criterion you want to evaluate to open its corresponding form.

Fill in the corresponding form with all relevant information to ensure a comprehensive evaluation.

Before making changes, check the status of the sub-criterion:

• If the status is 'Not Started,' 'In Progress,' or 'Rejected,' you can edit the fields directly.

• If the status is 'Submitted,' the content cannot be edited because it is currently under review by LandScale validators.

• If the status is 'Approved' (meaning it has previously been submitted for validation), the fields will not be editable. Instead, a 'Make changes' button will appear. Click this button and confirm in the modal to reopen the form and enter edit mode.

When editing a sub-criterion that has previously been submitted for validation, you must start a new version by clicking 'Make changes.' If the latest validated version was set to public, it will remain visible to external users. Any updates made in the new version will only become visible once the revised version has been submitted and approved for validation.

Click 'Make changes' to edit a sub-criterion that was previously submitted for validation.

Confirm that you would like to edit the previously submitted sub-criterion to reopen the form and enter edit mode.

Each sub-criterion is divided into several sections containing a dedicated set of questions and a 'Save' button. You can add or update information in each section as needed. While no questions are mandatory, providing more complete information will support an accurate evaluation against the validation criteria.

After entering the information, review the publish toggle to control whether the data will be visible to external users once validated by LandScale. If you do not want the information to be publicly visible, ensure the toggle is set to 'Private.'

Review the publish toggle to control whether the data is public or private.

Save changes to the sub-criterion

After adding all relevant information to a sub-criterion, click the 'Save' button on each section where you have added or updated data.

Click 'Save' on each section where you have added or updated data.

After saving:

• If the sub-criterion was 'Not Started,' it will change to 'In Progress.'

• If the sub-criterion was 'In Progress,' your latest edits will be stored, and the 'Last Saved' date will update.

After saving any updates to the form, the 'Last Saved' date will automatically update.

Saving does not submit your work. A sub-criterion can only be submitted once all changes have been saved—unsaved changes will block submission. You can return and continue working on the evaluation at any time before it is submitted for validation.

Submit the sub-criterion for validation

Submission is a global action, meaning all eligible sub-criteria are submitted at once.

Before submitting for validation, ensure the following:

• Save all edits: The system will not allow submission if there are unsaved changes.

• Review eligible sub-criteria: Check the list of eligible sub-criteria displayed in the bar at the bottom of the screen and confirm you are satisfied with their content. If needed, scroll back to the relevant sub-criteria to review, edit, and save the information.

Before submitting, review the eligible sub-criteria and confirm you are satisfied with their content.

When you are ready to proceed, click the 'Submit' button. This will open the submission modal displaying all of the sub-criteria that are eligible for submission. To be eligible for submission, a sub-criterion must be in the 'In Progress' state and fully saved (no pending edits).

Review the list and confirm the submission by clicking 'Confirm & Submit.' This will send the eligible sub-criteria for validation.

Review the list of sub-criteria eligible for validation and confirm the submission.

After submission, a confirmation modal will appear explaining what happens next. The sub-criteria status will change to 'Submitted,' and the content will become locked (read‑only) until the validation process is completed.

Example of a sub-criterion submitted for validation.

LandScale validators cannot edit submitted content; they can only review and approve or reject each sub-criterion. Please ensure the information provided is sufficient to support evaluation against the validation criteria before submission.

What happens after submission

After submission, a LandScale validator reviews the submitted content and assigns one of two outcomes: 'Approved' or 'Rejected.'

If the sub-criterion is approved:

• The status of the sub-criterion will change to 'Approved.'

• You will receive a public validation remark from the LandScale validator alongside the assigned maturity level.

• Any previously validated versions become historical versions, and the newly validated version becomes the current reference version displayed on the profile.

• Any sections with the publish flag set to public will become visible to external users. The validator remark and assigned maturity level will also be displayed publicly.

• The content becomes read-only. To make changes, you must start a new version by clicking 'Make changes.'

Example of an approved sub-criterion with a validation remark.

To revise the content, click 'Make changes' and repeat the evaluation workflow. Starting a new version preserves the previous version as a historical record while allowing you to continue editing a new version. Once revisions are complete, you can resubmit the sub-criterion for validation.

Starting a new version creates a historical snapshot of the previous validated version in the database. Access to historical versions will be available through the platform in a future release. For now, historical versions can be requested through the Help Desk.

If the sub-criterion is rejected:

• The status of the sub-criterion will change to 'Rejected.'

• You will receive a private validation remark from the LandScale validator with guidance on what needs to be improved.

• After reviewing the validator's remark, update the data accordingly and resubmit it for validation.

Example of a rejected sub-criterion with a validation remark indicating what requires attention.

There is no limit to how many times you can start a new version and resubmit a sub-criterion for validation. Validation is conducted on a first-come, first-served basis, so after resubmitting, there may be a short waiting period while validation takes place.