I had the idea long ago to expand the Canadian sustainable, forest management indicators concept to societies criteria and  indicators, including natural resources and the environment .  This happened when I was  trying to develop sustainable forestry initiative, indicators for certified force at New England forest resources.  These  indicators can be mapped in a geographic index sort of way.   Once we figure out our desired future condition, then we can figure out where we are now relative to that desired future condition.   

My long-standing vision involves extending the robust framework established by Canada’s sustainable forest management indicators to encompass a far broader spectrum of societal well-being and comprehensive sustainability. This expanded framework would integrate critical metrics across all facets of natural resources and environmental health, alongside vital social, economic, and cultural dimensions, thereby offering a truly holistic perspective on our collective progress.

A cornerstone of this approach is the powerful application of geographic information systems (GIS) to visually map and analyze these indicators. This geographic indexing would transform abstract data into tangible, spatially-relevant insights, highlighting areas of success and concern with unparalleled clarity. Such a visual, interactive platform would be invaluable for public engagement, policy formulation, and targeted interventions.

The strategic utility of this framework lies in its capacity to guide proactive planning. By first collectively defining our desired future state – a shared vision for thriving communities and resilient ecosystems – we can then precisely benchmark our current position against these aspirational goals. This foundational comparison will not only reveal critical gaps and pressing challenges but also illuminate pathways and priorities for strategic intervention and policy development, ultimately guiding our collective journey towards genuine and enduring sustainability and beyond towards desired future condition.

With the Earth unidiversity research explorer cycle And spatial enabled, integrated device, we will be able to involve all the stakeholders in stewards, including everyone everything everywhere on earth. People scoping in science in a passive and active way will provide data towards these criteria and indicators.