Implementation of Ecosystem Accounting: results from a set of pilot studies from OECD and developing countries

On 20 April, FAO's webinar "Implementation of Ecosystem Accounting: results from a set of pilot studies from OECD and developing countries" provided an introduction to the United Nations System of Environmental Economic Accounting – Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA-EA) and its implementation.

Background:

The System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA), which is aligned with the System of National Accounts  used worldwide to calculate key economic statistics, supports the mandate of FAO by addressing increasingly complex emerging issues – from transforming food systems to dealing with climate change – where the role of agriculture is prominent. The SEEA Ecosystem Accounts (SEEA-EA), adopted by the UN Statistical Commission as a global statistical standard in March 2021 (chapter 1-8), represent an important development that will enable countries in valuing ecosystem services and assets, thereby improving the measurement of their natural capital, and linking this information to measures of economic and human activity in a context that is coherent with the fight against hunger and malnutrition. 

Content:

This seminar explored the use of the SEEA-EA using data and maps to inform on changes in ecosystems and ecosystem services supply, in biophysical and monetary terms. The presentation also demonstrated the applicability of the SEEA-EA to support investment decisions in the private sector, with support of case studies from OECD and developing countries.

Presenter:

The webinar was delivered by Dr Lars Hein, Professor at Wageningen University (and FAO staff member from 1997 to 2002). He is one of the main authors of the 2012 SEEA Experimental Ecosystem Accounting framework (SEEA-EEA), the 2017 SEEA-EEA Technical Recommendations, and the 2021 SEEA-EA standard. He has advised on the development of ecosystem accounts in the Netherlands, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Botswana, Costa Rica, and Colombia. He is coordinator of the EU MAIA Project supporting SEEA implementation in 10 EU countries, and is member of the EU Task Force on ecosystem accounting.   

Agenda:

-          Welcome and Opening Remarks: Mr Pietro Gennari 

-          Presentation: Professor Dr Lars Hein 

-          Discussion: Moderator Mr Paulo Lourenço Dias Nunes 

-          Closing remarks: Mr Pietro Gennari 

The recording can be accessed here, while the presentation can be downloaded from here.

More on this topic: TEDx by Prof Lars Hein on Natural Capital Accounting