# Landscape-level scale

This sub-criterion assesses whether the landscape initiative operates at a scale appropriate for advancing its collective sustainability goals, and whether the boundary has been agreed upon by stakeholders, as demonstrated through a clear and well-documented justification.

## Requirements and validation criteria

To assess whether a landscape initiative operates within a clearly defined and appropriately scaled boundary, LandScale requests specific information via tailored questions. Submitted materials are used to evaluate and validate the extent to which the landscape-level scale sub-criterion is met. 

<table><thead><tr><th width="234">Requirements</th><th>Validation criteria</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Landscape boundary file.</td><td>The landscape boundary is submitted in the required format (.shp or .kml), forms a single contiguous area, and covers at least 10,000 hectares (or the size is otherwise justified).</td></tr><tr><td>Boundary type.</td><td><p>The boundary type is indicated as one of the provided delineation options: </p><ul><li>Jurisdiction.</li><li>Catchment/watershed.</li><li>Stakeholder-defined landscape.</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td><p></p><p>Evidence to demonstrate that the boundary is appropriately scaled to support the landscape initiative's goals. </p></td><td><p>Based on the selected boundary type, evidence should demonstrate that the boundary is appropriately scaled: </p><ul><li>If jurisdiction is selected, it aligns with an official first-, second-, or third-order jurisdiction (up to 10% deviation permitted).</li><li>If catchment/watershed is selected, it aligns with the relevant catchment/watershed (up to 10% deviation permitted).</li><li>If stakeholder-defined boundary is selected, it is justified with a clear explanation of how it was delineated—including how it was agreed upon and reflects the interests and priorities of multiple stakeholders, while aligning with the ambitions set out by the collective sustainability goals.</li></ul><p></p><p>In all cases, the rationale for the selected boundary is clearly explained and supported by:</p><ul><li>A justification statement explaining how and why the boundary was defined, how it is appropriate for addressing the collective sustainability goals, and how stakeholders were engaged in its delineation.</li><li>Evidence of alignment with governance structures, ecosystem functions, and/or socio-economic conditions. </li><li>Documentation of stakeholder engagement and consensus in defining the boundary, such as meeting notes, workshop outputs, formal agreements, or press releases. </li><li>An adjacency analysis conducted as part of the LandScale assessment (if applicable).</li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table>

Once validation is complete, the landscape-level scale sub-criterion on the wheel at the top of the initiative's profile will be filled to reflect the assigned maturity level, with validated information visible throughout the profile unless it is set to private.


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