Mapping Assessment Tools for Nature-Positive Decision-Making

Background Efforts to support nature-positive decision-making rely on a growing number of assessment tools for Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and Ecosystem Services (ES), yet the available tool landscape remains fragmented and difficult to navigate. Tools differ widely in scope and purpose, and there is limited evidence on how they are recognised and used in practice. This study addresses this gap by presenting a structured mapping of NbS and ES assessment tools and analysing their uptake among practitioners. In doing so, it provides evidence on the relationship between the tool selection and sectoral context. Methods An initial search identified 275 items from publications, online databases and partner contributions, which were screened to 148 tools using a clear definition of an assessment tool. A survey of 737 respondents assessed awareness, knowledge and usage. Results The results show that only a small group of tools, including IUCN NbS-SAT, InVEST and FAOSTAT, is widely recognised, while many others remain less visible. Engagement varies across regions, professional roles and work sectors, revealing uneven visibility and use. Conclusion The study provide insights into who uses which tools, how frequently they are used, and within which sectors, which may inform future efforts to organize tool information and support tool selection for nature-positive decision-making. Preprint is available in repository - https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18787615 Shaheen, Hummam, Francisco Silva Pinto, Mark van Nieuwstadt, and John Garvey. 2026b. ‘Mapping Assessment Tools for Nature-Positive Decision-Making’.