What can CPLUS be used for?

CPLUS is intended to facilitate stakeholder engagement for mapping nature-based solution (NbS) action plans for a landscape. The CPLUS tool creates maps of the NbS projects that are feasible in a given location, based on the priorities set by stakeholders. This allows multiple landscape maps to be created, enabling stakeholders to hold productive discussions around the benefits and tradeoffs of different scenarios.

Does the data cover [country]?

CPLUS can be used anywhere where relevant datasets can be collected. The tool currently does not contain any pre-loaded data. Your team must collect and generate CPLUS input datasets using existing carbon, land cover, and other non-carbon datasets.

How can I access the CPLUS tool?

The CPLUS tool is a QGIS plugin. QGIS is a free, open-source geospatial software that is available to anyone. The CPLUS tool is currently under development. Please email our team at cplus@conservation.org if you’d like to access the tool. The tool will be released to a wider audience in the near future.

How long does it take to complete a CPLUS evaluation?

While we are unable to provide precise estimates of how long each step will take, in our experience the implementation of the CPLUS framework (referred to as the “CPLUS evaluation”) can span six to twelve months. The most time consuming process involves data collection and data preparation. The timeline may be accelerated or delayed depending on team capacity, availability, and budget.  

Who needs to be involved in the CPLUS evaluation?

While there will be some inherent variations within each CPLUS evaluation, it’s recommended to assemble a core team that is local to the landscape to lead the CPLUS process and to coordinate with experts and stakeholders. The recommended core team includes: 

• Strategy Lead: Someone who helps set the strategy for your organization at the regional or national level. This person should be able to influence and allocate human resources to the CPLUS evaluation; 

• Technical Lead: A GIS (graphical information systems) expert who is familiar with land use and other data in the region; 

• Partnerships Lead: Someone who has strong relationships with relevant stakeholders and knowledge of existing and/or proposed natural climate solutions for the landscape. This individual should understand the value of large-scale land use planning in meeting national climate goals and should be able to effectively communicate technical concepts to non-technical audiences. 

We also highly recommend including local stakeholders throughout each step of the CPLUS process.

What scales does CPLUS work at?

CPLUS can be used at any scale, though it is designed to support landscape planning where plans will be tailored to the unique conditions of a landscape. At a larger scale (e.g., national and transboundary evaluations), data availability and quality may vary and the resulting output may be difficult to interpret or may not represent the reality of a specific area.