Integrated Landscape Assessment, Decision-Support Process & Tool Kit

The document outlines a framework for mainstreaming climate change adaptation by combining stakeholder engagement with quantitative spatial modelling. Using the 'Farms to Regions' (F2R) project in Eastern Ontario as a case study, it describes a process of identifying regional drivers, developing qualitative and quantitative scenarios (including a Business-As-Usual baseline), and simulating these futures using the Envision modelling platform. The guide emphasizes the use of integrated decision units (IDUs) to map impacts on farm income and environmental services, providing a toolkit for planners to evaluate trade-offs and develop robust adaptation strategies.

• The proposed framework for mainstreaming adaptation integrates qualitative stakeholder-driven scenarios with quantitative simulation models to identify synergies and trade-offs between different sectors.
• In Eastern Ontario, climate change is projected to cause a 2.5% to 3.7% warming by 2050 compared to the 1961-1990 baseline, with an expected increase in the frequency of extreme rainfall events.
• The guidebook identifies 'critical uncertainties'—drivers that are both highly important and highly uncertain—as the basis for defining alternative future scenarios; in Eastern Ontario, these primarily include climate change, markets/economy, and governance/policy.
• Four distinct alternative future scenarios were developed for the Eastern Ontario region: 'Targeting foreign markets', 'Promoting the bioeconomy', 'Moving toward greener agriculture', and 'Living locally'.
• The Envision modelling platform uses 'Integrated Decision Units' (IDUs)—homogeneous GIS polygons—to simulate landscape changes; for the Eastern Ontario project, 112,488 IDUs were created by combining cadastral, land cover, and soil data.
• Adaptation actions are categorized into five clusters: farm-level actions, new technologies/insurance, ecosystem goods and services maintenance, information provision for vulnerability planning, and public awareness/education.
• The framework utilizes both process-based indicators (e.g., consultation types) and outcome-based indicators (e.g., farm income, agricultural output) to track the efficacy of adaptation efforts.
• The integrated model incorporates specific scientific sub-models, including NAHARP models for wildlife, nitrogen, and phosphorus, and NAESI biodiversity standards for habitat conservation.

APA

Waldick, R., Bizikova, L., Bolte, J., MacDonald, D., Zaytseva, A., Lindsay, K., White, D., Gasser, P. Y., Mitchell, S., Vache, K., Hamalainen, S., & Swanson, D. (2015). Integrated Landscape Assessment, Decision-Support Process & Tool Kit. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/mainstreaming-climate-change-toolkit-guidebook.pdf

Chicago

Waldick, Ruth, Livia Bizikova, John Bolte, Dan MacDonald, Anna Zaytseva, Kathy Lindsay, Denis White, et al. Integrated Landscape Assessment, Decision-Support Process & Tool Kit. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2015. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/mainstreaming-climate-change-toolkit-guidebook.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Waldick |first1=Ruth |last2=Bizikova |first2=Livia |last3=Bolte |first3=John |last4=MacDonald |first4=Dan |last5=Zaytseva |first5=Anna |last6=Lindsay |first6=Kathy |last7=White |first7=Denis |last8=Gasser |first8=Pierre Yves |last9=Mitchell |first9=Scott |display-authors=etal |title=Integrated Landscape Assessment, Decision-Support Process & Tool Kit |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2015 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/mainstreaming-climate-change-toolkit-guidebook.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{waldick2015integrated, author = {Waldick, Ruth and Bizikova, Livia and Bolte, John and MacDonald, Dan and Zaytseva, Anna and Lindsay, Kathy and White, Denis and Gasser, Pierre Yves and Mitchell, Scott and Vache, Kellie and Hamalainen, Sampsa and Swanson, Darren}, title = {{Integrated Landscape Assessment, Decision-Support Process \& Tool Kit}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2015}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/mainstreaming-climate-change-toolkit-guidebook.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }