The following types of tools were identified at the outset:

• Ecosystem Services tools
• Futures tools
• Incentives tools
• Public Engagement tools
• Regulatory tools
• Valuation tools

A literature review was carried out for each type of tools in order to understand the scope and contribution of the tools in more detail.

Tools judged to have the highest impact in policy- and decision-making were selected by members of the research team, in collaboration with other stakeholders. Team members completed a written template to review 34 different tools and considered their location and application within a generic policy-making cycle.

The policy-making cycle has the following stages (these make up the main stages of the NEAT tree):

• Ideas
• Survey
• Assess
• Plan
• Deliver
• Evaluate

From the 34 reviewed tools, a suite of nine tools was adapted to incorporate the principles of the Ecosystem Approach. These tools were:

Bespoke guidance for using these adapted tools was developed for use within the six stages of the policy-making cycle (Ideas, Survey, Assess, Plan, Deliver, Evaluate). Key discussion prompts and questions were developed for each stage of the cycle and the most applicable tools were signposted.

A range of case studies provided ‘learning from experience’ to understand what can be delivered and achieved in practice.

This website provides an interactive portal for users to access the wide range of materials associated with the project.