Experimental Biodiversity Accounting as a component of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting Experimental Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA-EEA)

The System of Environmental-Economic Accounting 2012 Experimental Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA-EEA) provides a framework to measure and link ecosystem service flows supported by biodiversity and other ecosystem characteristics (e.g. soil type, altitude) with the economy and other human activities.Biodiversityaccounting is one of a number of thematic accounting themes in the SEEA-EEA framework.Biodiversity accounting, can help understand the relationship between biodiversity and economic development and planning activity by cutting across this data in a spatially explicit manner.Accounting for aspects of biodiversity is complex and as such experimentation of biodiversity accounting by countries is less advanced than water or carbon accounting.

Methods

Multi-criteria decision analysis/decision-support tools
Spread-sheet methods

Topics

Aquaculture
Intermediate ecosystem services

Additional information

UNEP-WCMC (2015) Experimental Biodiversity Accounting as a component of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting Experimental Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA-EEA). Supporting document to the Advancing the SEEA Experimental Ecosystem Accounting project. United Nations.

Constraints

It reviews some (but not all) of the established approaches to assessing the extent and condition of ecosystem diversity and for measuring species diversity, and examines their suitability for accounting purposes.
Limited application of biodiversity accounting exists. This documenthighlights a number of issues for resolution (e.g. challenges relating to data availability, scale and aggregation issues) and recommendations for testing, refining and validation.
In light of the issues identified above the document is being updated to a step-by-step working approach for constructing Species Accounts, which is due to be published in 2016.

Product requirements

Biodiversity accounting requires a multi-disciplinary team of natural scientists, accountants, economists, GIS experts as well as input from stakeholders and users of the information.
The starting point for biodiversity accounting is to identify the policy relevant question(s) that the accounts seek to address. This will guide the prioritisation of the species selected for the accounts.
Data availability is a key limiting factor for accounting. This document provides guidance on mobilising data from different sources.

Advantages

The document introduces the concept of biodiversity and its roles, as well as measuring biodiversityin the context of accounting.
To assist countries in implementing biodiversityaccounting (focused on species)the documentpresents a three tiered approach based on data availability.
The document presents experimental Biodiversity Accounts drawing on case studies from around the world.

Quality Assurance

Scientific peer review

Links

http://www.unep-wcmc.org/news/guidance-on-experimental-biodiversity-accounting-u…

Contact details

Steven King

Programme Officer

Steven.King@unep-wcmc.org

Experimental Biodiversity Accounting as a component of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting Experimental Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA-EEA)

Associated Oppla members