Mapping Essential Life Support Areas (ELSAs)

What is it?

Over the last six years, UNBL has supported countries around the world in participatory spatial planning to identify where nature-based actions can safeguard Essential Life Support Areas (ELSAs) to contribute to national priorities for biodiversity, climate, and human well-being. Building on this science-based spatial prioritization framework, as well as the cloud-based functionalities of the UNBL platform, the ELSA Integrated Spatial Planning Tool is now available for all countries on UNBL.  

This customizable application of the ELSA framework empowers nations to conduct biodiversity-inclusive spatial analysis that may guide biodiversity, climate, and sustainable development commitments. The free, open-source, cloud-hosted tool leverages the existing functionalities and data  of UNBL to offer planners and stakeholders a science-based method to identify national priority areas where protection, restoration, sustainable management, and urban greening can deliver the best outcomes across Global Biodiversity Framework targets and indicators – without requiring GIS or spatial planning expertise. 

Watch the UNBL trailer

How can I access it?

To use the ELSA Integrated Spatial Planning Tool for your country, simply request a workspace on UN Biodiversity Lab using our form and indicate that you would like access to the ELSA tool. Feel free to reach out to us at support@unbiodiversitylab.org for further questions.  

In addition to the free ELSA Tool available on our website, we offer a variety of at-cost support to develop customized spatial analyses for your national targets and needs, incorporate national data into the analysis, and facilitate stakeholder engagement. Our goal is to support participatory spatial planning for national needs related to the Global Biodiversity Framework and related commitments around biodiversity, climate, and sustainable development. To inquire further about these services, please contact support@unbiodiversitylab.org.  

Impact stories

River winding through a forest

Maps of Hope

Maps of Hope helps guide countries in identifying and prioritizing areas where protecting, restoring, and managing ecosystems can simultaneously advance biodiversity conservation, climate action, and sustainable development.

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Mist over hills and trees

Restoring Hope

Restoring Hope supports countries in identifying and prioritizing areas for ecosystem restoration, helping to address ecosystem degradation, climate change, and desertification while delivering lasting environmental and social benefits.

Read more →
Lake reflecting green mountains

Prioritizing Nature

Prioritizing Nature works with Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru to apply spatial data to identify and prioritize areas for conservation, helping the countries meet the target to safeguard 30% of land and waters by 2030.

Read more →

Additional resources

Mountain landscape with autumn forest

Learn about the science, policy applications, and relevancy of this tool to your country in our overview brief.

Tropical rainforest with sunrise mist

Access our ELSA Tool manual.

❛❛ ELSA facilitates the identification of biological corridors, key conservation areas, watersheds, and agricultural use areas, among others, that should be considered for water security planning, ensuring that the ecosystem service of water provision is protected for current and future generations. ❜❜

José Manuel Ochoa, Alexander von Humboldt Natural Resource Research Institute, Colombia

❛❛ From the vibrant Amazonian region of Ucayali to the bounds of our nation, our ELSA map draws from diverse knowledge, data, and needs. It shows us how local and national action can go hand in hand to heal the lungs of our planet and of our people. It shows us how action on nature can lead to prosperity. ❜❜

William Llactayo, Ministry of the Environment, Peru

❛❛ The ELSA project has been a good example of how systematic planning can be used to identify spatial priorities when planning for policy implementation across multiple government sectors. The key success factor was the collaborative approach and comprehensive stakeholder engagement processes.  ❜❜

Greer Hawley, South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), South Africa

About the ELSA team

Learn more about the team behind our work to map Essential Life Support Areas. 

Meet the team here