Abstract
Ecosystem condition accounts are part of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting – Experimental Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EEA). An ecosystem condition account contains aggregated statistical information about the overall abiotic and biotic quality of an ecosystem at a policy relevant spatial scale. This article reviews 23 publicly-accessible reports undertaken or commissioned by government agencies, academic and non-government organisations that discuss or present an ecosystem condition account. This analysis revealed that ecosystem condition is usually reported for one or more ecosystem types, but there is little consistency in the terminology used to define ecosystem types. All case studies report variables or indicators that measure specific ecosystem characteristics in order to make inferences about the overall condition of ecosystems. All studies included biotic indicators and almost all studies included species-based indicators in the condition account. The thematic aggregation of indicators into a single composite index (or in a few composite sub-indices) is not a standard practice, but applied in about half of the studies. The definition and use of a reference condition or reference levels for specific indicators against which the reported condition can be evaluated is not a standard practice, but was applied in about half of the studies. Based on this analysis, we suggest the revision of the SEEA EEA to propose a globally-consistent typology of ecosystem types; to recommend a list of ecosystem condition indicators according to an agreed classification; to provide further guidance on aggregation methods and on the development of an ecosystem condition index that can be used to compare ecosystem condition across ecosystem types and across different accounting areas; to provide further guidance on how best to set reference levels and reference conditions against which the past, current and future ecosystem condition can be assessed; and to propose a standard set of statistical tables for reporting the condition account.
Highlights
Ecosystem accounts measure how ecosystems contribute to human well-being and the economy and how this evolves over time
Only studies that discuss the development of an ecosystem condition account with specific reference to the SEEA EEA or that report an ecosystem condition account including an accounting table that is constructed in line with technical accounting recommendations (United Nations 2019) were further considered
An ecosystem condition accounting table can take several forms. It can report for a specific accounting area the opening and closing values of ecosystem condition indicators for one or more ecosystem types and for one or more years; it can report for one or more years the area or stock of an ecosystem type in different ecosystem condition classes so that the sum of the reported areas equals the total area of the ecosystem type for the accounting area; it can report an aggregated ecosystem condition index or sub-indices per year and per ecosystem type
Summary
Ecosystem accounts measure how ecosystems contribute to human well-being and the economy and how this evolves over time. Consistent and regular production of ecosystem accounts requires the development of best practice guidelines and testing these guidelines with pilot ecosystem accounts (Obst et al 2013, Polasky et al 2015). This is the objective of the System of Environmental EconomicAccounting – Experimental Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EEA, United Nations et al 2014). The SEEA EEA defines an integrated statistical framework for organising biophysical data, tracking changes in ecosystem assets, measuring ecosystem services and linking this information to economic and other human activity. To these core accounts, thematic accounts provide more detailed, quantitative data on, for example, land, water, carbon or biodiversity
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
