LAYER 1: PLANETARY FOUNDATIONS
Biosphere & Living Systems
The four interconnected boundaries that govern life on Earth – and the natural capital that economies depend on.
In 30 Seconds
Four planetary boundaries work together as an interconnected system governing life on Earth:
- Biosphere Integrity– Species diversity and genetic diversity (the “what” of life)
- Land-System Change– Forest cover and land use (the “where” of life)
- Freshwater Change– Blue and green water systems (the “flow” that sustains life)
- Biogeochemical Flows– Nitrogen and phosphorus cycles (the “nutrients” that feed life)
All four are already crossed. Together, they form what ISEP and TNFD call “Biodiversity & Natural Capital” – the foundation of ecosystem services, supply chains, and economic value.
Where This Fits
This page covers four of the nine planetary boundaries – the “life-related” boundaries that together constitute the biosphere.
The Nine Boundaries – Life-Related Cluster
LIFE-RELATED (This Page)
- Biosphere Integrity
- Land-System Change
- Freshwater Change
- Biogeochemical Flows
OTHER BOUNDARIES
- Climate Change
- Novel Entities
- Ocean Acidification
- Stratospheric Ozone
- Atmospheric Aerosols
These four boundaries don't operate in isolation. They form a feedback system where changes in one affect all others. This is why we present them together rather than as separate topics.
The Four Interconnected Boundaries
Each boundary has been crossed. Together, they represent the most significant risks to natural capital and the ecosystem services that businesses depend on.
1. Biosphere Integrity
HIGH RISKThe diversity of life – species, genes, and functional ecosystems
What It Measures
- Genetic diversity: Variety within species that enables adaptation
- Functional diversity: Range of roles species play in ecosystems
- Extinction rate: Currently 100–1,000x natural background rate
Current Status
- 69% decline in wildlife populations since 1970 (WWF Living Planet Index)
- 1 million species at risk of extinction (IPBES)
- Pollinator populations declining globally
Business Relevance
Biodiversity loss threatens pollination (agriculture), pest control (farming), genetic resources (pharmaceuticals), and ecosystem stability (supply chain resilience). TNFD adopters must now assess and disclose nature-related dependencies and impacts.
2. Land-System Change
CROSSEDForest cover and land use patterns that regulate climate, water, and biodiversity
What It Measures
- Forest cover: Area of forested land by biome
- Conversion rate: Speed of forest-to-agriculture change
- Biome integrity: Condition of tropical, boreal, and temperate forests
Current Status
- Tropical forest: 60% of original remains (boundary: 85%)
- Temperate forest: 54% remains (boundary: 50%)
- 10 million hectares lost annually
Business Relevance
Deforestation drives regulatory risk (EUDR, UK due diligence), reputational exposure, and supply chain disruption. Land-use change affects carbon sequestration, water regulation, and agricultural productivity. Companies with commodity supply chains face direct exposure.
3. Freshwater Change
CROSSEDBlue water (rivers, lakes, groundwater) and green water (soil moisture, plant transpiration)
What It Measures
- Blue water: River flow, groundwater, lakes – what we typically think of as “water”
- Green water: Soil moisture and plant transpiration – drives 60% of terrestrial rainfall
- Flow disruption: Changes to natural hydrological cycles
Current Status
- Green water boundary crossed (2022 assessment)
- 18% of major river basins exceed sustainable withdrawal
- Groundwater depletion accelerating in key agricultural regions
Business Relevance
Water scarcity affects manufacturing, agriculture, energy generation, and data centres. Companies face operational, regulatory, and reputational risks in water-stressed basins. Water stewardship is increasingly expected by investors and incorporated into sustainability reporting.
4. Biogeochemical Flows
SEVERELY CROSSEDNitrogen and phosphorus cycles – the nutrient foundation of all life
What It Measures
- Nitrogen: Industrial fixation (fertilisers) now exceeds all natural processes combined
- Phosphorus: Flow from freshwater to oceans, accumulation in soils
- Nutrient cycling: Rate of nutrient movement through ecosystems
Current Status
- Nitrogen: ~150 Tg/year (boundary: 62 Tg/year) – 2.4x over
- Phosphorus: ~22 Tg/year (boundary: 11 Tg/year) – 2x over
- This is the most severely transgressed boundary
Business Relevance
Nutrient pollution creates dead zones, contaminates drinking water, and degrades soil health. Agriculture faces pressure to reduce fertiliser use while maintaining yields. Regenerative agriculture and precision farming are emerging responses. Soil health is increasingly recognised as a material business issue.
Why These Boundaries Are Interconnected
The four life-related boundaries form a feedback system. Stress on one amplifies stress on others.
Habitat destruction drives species loss
Nutrient runoff pollutes water systems
Aquatic ecosystems collapse under water stress
Deforestation disrupts rainfall patterns
Loss of decomposers breaks nutrient cycles
Soil degradation forces agricultural expansion
The Implication
You cannot address biodiversity loss without addressing land use, water, and nutrient cycles. This is why “nature-positive” strategies must be systemic – and why TNFD asks companies to assess dependencies and impacts across multiple environmental dimensions.
How This Maps to Practitioner Categories
Professional bodies like ISEP and frameworks like TNFD use “Biodiversity & Natural Capital” as a single practice area. This page explains what that category actually encompasses at the scientific level.
ISEP: Biodiversity & Natural Capital
ISEP defines natural capital as: “the stock of renewable and non-renewable natural resources (e.g., plants, animals, air, water, soils, minerals) that combine to yield a flow of benefits to people.”
| ISEP Component | Planetary Boundary |
|---|---|
| Plants, animals, genetic diversity | Biosphere Integrity |
| Soils, land use | Land-System Change |
| Water systems | Freshwater Change |
| Nutrient cycles (soil health) | Biogeochemical Flows |
The Pandion Perspective
ISEP organises by how practitioners work. Planetary boundaries show how the system actually functions. Understanding both gives you strategic advantage: you can translate between scientific evidence, professional practice, and business language.
Business Dependencies & Risks
Nature Dependencies
What businesses take from natural systems
- Pollination: $235–577 billion annual crop value globally
- Water provision: Agriculture, manufacturing, energy
- Soil fertility: Foundation of food production
- Genetic resources: Pharmaceuticals, crop varieties
- Climate regulation: Carbon sequestration, temperature moderation
Nature Impacts
What businesses do to natural systems
- Land conversion: Habitat loss from development, agriculture
- Pollution: Nutrient runoff, chemical discharge
- Resource extraction: Over-harvesting, mining, water withdrawal
- Invasive species: Transport, supply chains
- Climate change: Emissions affecting all boundaries
Operational Risk
Supply disruption, resource scarcity, production impacts
Regulatory Risk
EUDR, TNFD disclosure, biodiversity net gain
Reputational Risk
Deforestation links, greenwashing accusations
The Disclosure Reality
TNFD's LEAP framework (Locate, Evaluate, Assess, Prepare) requires companies to systematically assess their dependencies and impacts across all four of these boundaries. Over 500 organisations globally have adopted TNFD. Disclosure is becoming mandatory in the EU (CSRD/ESRS) and expected to follow in the UK. Understanding these boundaries is no longer optional.
Who Works on Biosphere & Living Systems
Science & Research
Defining and monitoring boundaries
Stockholm Resilience Centre, IPBES, IPCC, universities, UNEP-WCMC
What are the safe operating limits?
Conservation Organisations
Protecting and restoring systems
WWF, Conservation International, WCS, Fauna & Flora, local trusts
How do we halt and reverse degradation?
Standards & Frameworks
Translating science to practice
TNFD, SBTN, IUCN, Verra, GRI, ISSB
How should organisations measure and disclose?
Custodians & Producers
Managing land and resources
Indigenous communities, farmers, foresters, fishers, land managers
How do we steward natural capital?
Technology & MRV
Measuring and verifying
NatureMetrics, Pivotal, satellite providers, eDNA labs
How do we prove outcomes?
Finance & Investment
Mobilising capital for nature
Impact funds, DFIs, green bond issuers, biodiversity credit buyers
How do we fund nature recovery?
The Pandion View
The four life-related boundaries represent the foundation of everything we do. They're not separate environmental issues – they're an interconnected system that underpins natural capital, ecosystem services, and ultimately economic value.
Understanding these boundaries at a systemic level – not just as compliance categories – is what separates strategic action from checkbox exercises. We help clients see the whole picture and act on it.
If you're assessing nature-related risks, building a TNFD disclosure, or developing a nature-positive strategy, the science here is your foundation. The layers above – Landscapes, Ecosystem Services, Policy, Corporate Action – all depend on L1 remaining within safe operating limits.
Where To Go Next
Soil: The Cross-Cutting Foundation
Deep-dive into how soil connects all four life-related boundaries – carbon, nutrients, water, biodiversity.
Landscapes (L2)
Where planetary systems meet human activity – the places where outcomes happen.
Ecosystem Services (L3)
How natural capital generates value – the flow of benefits to economy and society.
Biodiversity Credits
How markets are emerging to finance nature recovery – from BNG to voluntary credits.
All Planetary Boundaries
The complete L1 overview – all nine boundaries and why they matter for business.
Regenerative Agriculture
Farming practices designed to restore soil health while producing food.
Sources: Stockholm Resilience Centre (Planetary Boundaries 2023 update), IPBES Global Assessment, WWF Living Planet Report, ISEP Policy & Practice Areas. This content is for educational purposes. For specific guidance, consult appropriately qualified professionals.