General criteria for sustainability in the Great Plains have been derived from the general principles. While some of the following criteria are similar to individual principles, there are many which flow from multiple principles. Associated with each criteria is a short list of key questions which should be asked. These questions provide the framework for developing measurable indicators of sustainability.

Stewardship Criteria

• Conservation
  • Does this program or policy provide habitat for all species of plants and animals in land, water, and air in this ecosystem?
  • Is social and economic activity of this program or policy capable of maintaining or rehabilitating the region’s biodiversity?
  • Does this program, policy, or practice improve or sustain the organic matter, soil structure, and biological activity of lands in production?
  • Does it protect and conserve soil and water resources?
• Management
  • Is the best farmland protected for agricultural purposes?
  • Does this program, policy, practice maintain integrity of region’s ecosystems?
  • Does it ensure an integrated and shared resource use?
  • Does it meet all principles of good agricultural husbandry?
  • Are impacts on other renewable resources, human health, diversity, etc. considered in the planning growing, harvesting, processing, marketing, and consuming of agricultural resources?
• Rehabilitation
  • Are environmental resources protected or regenerated by program, policy, or practice?
  • Are marginal lands put at risk by this policy, program, or practice?
  • Is pest management integrated into biodiversity policy and program considerations?
• Biodiversity
  • Are international genetic resources protected by program, policy, or practice?
  • Does it encourage an integrated pest management program?
  • Does it recognize the value of organic soil resources in providing a base for a diversity of species and organisms?
  • Does it encourage genetic variability within species, both wild and domestic?
• Common Property
  • Does policy, program, or practice recognize shared responsibilities within ecosystem and within global, regional, and local communities?
  • Are genetic resources accessible to all stakeholders?
  • Does policy, program, practice affect air quality?
  • Are water quality and quantity affected?
  • Is it a net source or sink of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases?
• Global Change
  • Are global environmental, societal, and economic impacts considered by policy, program, or practice?
  • Are international actions to promote, protect, and rebuild natural resources enhanced and/or hindered by policy, program, practice?
  • Does policy, program, or practice encourage equity in global markets?

Economic Viability Criteria

• Natural Resources
  • Can land, water, and common property resources be maintained, increased, or rehabilitated by the policy, program, or practice?
  • Are environmental resources renewed through maintenance of soil fertility, organic matter, water resources and biodiversity?
  • Are non-renewable resources used sparingly and are alternate resources being researched and developed?
• Human Resources
  • Are peoples of the Great Plains healthy, knowledgeable, motivated and appropriately skilled to sustain the economic viability of the region?
  • Is intergenerational and intragenerational fairness and equity in resource allocation ensured in policy or program?
  • Does the program or policy promote transfer of skills or technologies which protect the environment, add value to human endeavour, and improve the region’s economic viability?
  • Is the regions’ human capacity valued in the documentation of resources available for economic and environmental viability?
• Market Viability
  • Are net returns of products resulting from this program, policy, or practice positive without negatively impacting the health and well being of society or environment?
  • Are real costs/benefits used in determining net returns? For instance, are marginal lands already in production impacted positively or negatively?
  • Are these net returns viable in an open internal as well as external trade environment?
• All costs considered
  • Are all environmental and societal costs and benefits included in measuring cost/benefits associated with economic activity?
  • Are costs and benefits to the global community measured in determining economic, social, and environmental viability?
  • Is "Common Property" included in valuation of costs and benefits?
  • Are renewable and non-renewable resources valued to reflect cost of replacement and regeneration?
• Innovations
  • Does research and development integrate full cost accounting in determining sustainability of new scientific and technological innovations?
  • Are water and land management enhanced by this innovation?
  • Does this innovation, or policies and programs encouraging this innovation, sustain and nurture existing social and cultural values?
• Conservation
  • Does this program or policy promote the efficient use of all resources, both renewable and non-renewable?
  • Does this program maintain biological diversity?
  • Are finite, non-renewable resources protected to ensure availability of resources for future generations?
  • Is a full environmental impact assessment incorporated into the information gathering prior to establishing policy, program, or practice?

Social Concerns Criteria

• Global Responsibility
  • Does program or policy consider the health and well-being of global citizens, as well as the health of their environment and economies?
  • Does it respect human rights?
  • Does it promote equity and equality for all citizens of the world?
• Social Security
  • Does program or policy ensure equality of opportunity?
  • Does it ensure all citizens have an acceptable standard of living?
  • Are sick, infirm, young, or elderly impacted?
  • Is quality of life affected?
  • How is quality of life defined by policy, program, or practice?
• Employment Opportunity & Equity
  • Does program, policy or practice limit employment opportunity?
  • Does program, policy or practice discriminate on basis of gender, race, or religion, or political beliefs?
  • Does it encourage or limit inequitable labour standards and practices at local, region, or global levels?
  • Does it incorporate or ignore health and safety standards at work site, or when end product consumed?
• Health
  • Is quality and quantity of water such that health of humans and other species secure?
  • Is food supply free of toxins, chemicals, etc.? Is prenatal health and safety at risk?
  • Are issues of health impacted by cultural, religious, or political interpretations of policy, program, or practice?
• Education
  • Is policy, program, practice understood within context of sustainable development principles and criteria?
  • Is research and development of policy, program, or practice comprehensive and in keeping with principles of sustainable development?
• Democratization
  • Does policy, program or practice represent wishes of a majority or citizens?
  • Is military and/or police force needed to implement policy, program, or practice?
  • Does policy, program, or practice ensure equality of economic and social opportunity?