Developing peatland ecosystem accounts to guide targets for restoration

Catherine Farrell,Iseult Sheehy,Cathal O'Donoghue,Fiona Smith,Jane Stout,Daniel Norton,Stephen Kinsella,Lisa Coleman,Carl Obst,Mark Eigenraam,Mary Kelly-Quinn

doi:10.3897/oneeco.6.e76838

Abstract

The United Nations System of Environmental and Economic Accounting - Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA) is a geospatial approach, whereby existing data on ecosystem stocks and flows are collated to show changes over time. The framework has been proposed as a means to track and monitor ecosystem restoration targets across the EU. Condition is a key consideration in the conservation assessment of habitats protected under the EU Habitats Directive and ecosystem condition accounts are also integral to the SEEA EA. While SEEA EA accounts have been developed at EU level for an array for ecosystem types, condition accounts remain the least developed. Collating available datasets under the SEEA EA framework, we developed extent and rudimentary condition accounts for peatland ecosystems at catchment scale in Ireland. Information relating to peatland ecosystem sub-types or habitat types was collated for peatland habitats listed under Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive, as well as degraded peatlands not included in EU nature conservation networks. While data relating to peatland condition were limited, understanding changes in ecosystem extent and incorporating knowledge of habitat types and degradation served as a proxy for ecosystem condition in the absence of more comprehensive data. This highlighted the importance of the ecosystem extent account, which underpins all other accounts in the SEEA EA framework. Reflecting findings at EU level, drainage, disturbance and land conversion were identified as the main pressures affecting peatland condition. We highlighted a number of options to gather data to build more robust, time-series extent and condition accounts for peatlands at varying accounting scales. Overall, despite the absence of comprehensive data, bringing information under the SEEA EA framework is considered a good starting point, with the integration of expert ecological opinion considered essential to ensure development of reliable accounts, particularly when working at ecosystem sub-type (habitat type) and catchment scale.

Highlights

Good ecosystem condition is integral to achieving good nature conservation status of habitats listed under Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive (Annex I includes those habitats considered threatened in the EU territory and whose conservation requires the designation of Special Areas of Conservation or SACs)
Assessment of condition is included alongside assessment of habitat range and threats as part of the conservation status assessment of Annex I habitats reported by EU Member States under Article 17 of the EU Habitats Directive (NPWS 2019), presenting an immediate means to identify and prioritise Annex I habitats for restoration, such as those in unfavourable-bad state
Developed to facilitate a broader view of ecosystems, including those outside of nature conservation networks, condition accounts are integral to the System of Environmental Economic Accounting-Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA) framework, relating ecosystem condition to each of the assets outlined in the extent account for a defined accounting area

Summary

Introduction

This highlighted the importance of the ecosystem extent account, which underpins all other accounts in the SEEA EA framework. Incorporating approaches to the assessment of ecosystem stocks (their extent and condition) and the resultant effects on ecosystem flows (services and benefits), natural capital accounting presents a means to record and track changes over time through the development of time-series accounts, thereby increasing awareness of nature’s contributions to human well-being (Obst 2015, Hein et al 2020). The SEEA EA was adopted as a statistical standard in 2021 and comprises a geospatial approach, whereby existing data on ecosystem stocks and flows are collated to show changes over time (Obst 2015, Eigenraam and Obst 2018, UNSD 2021). We note that quality is assessed with respect to ecosystem structure, function and composition, which combine to underpin the ecological integrity of the ecosystem and, thereby, its capacity to supply ecosystem services (UNSD 2021)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion