Implementing the System of Environmental Economic Accounting-Ecosystem Accounting: A Systematic Review

The environmental degradation observed in the last decades has triggered governments and international institutions to take action to halt biodiversity loss. For this, natural capital assessment is essential. The System of System of Environmental Economic Accounting-Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA-EA) was established by the United Nations (UN) as a global standard for integrating economic and environmental statistical data. Nevertheless, only some attempts were made to identify where this approach was conducted. In this study, we systematically review the studies, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis method. The results showed an increasing number of publications in the last decade. Most of the studies were conducted in Europe and Oceania. Regarding the types of SEEA-EA accounts, most studies focus on the extent of ecosystems and the monetary ecosystem services accounts. However, most do not provide essential information in the context of SEEA-EA, like opening/closing accounting tables, definition of reference conditions and results validation. The most studied ecosystem types were forests and woodlands; most of the works assessed more than one ecosystem type. Most ecosystem extent studies utilised national and international land use maps and remote sensing data. The results for ecosystem condition showed that most studies assess condition using indicators that fall out of the typology proposed in the SEEA-EA. They are mainly using biophysical indicators. Physical ecosystem services accounts were compiled by combining qualitative (e.g., expert elicitation) and quantitative (e.g., process-based modelling) methodologies, and studied mainly focusing on regulating & maintenance ecosystem services. Monetary ecosystem services accounts were compiled using economic methodologies such as market price and avoidance costs. The results obtained are essential to understanding the status of SEEA-EA implementation regarding the analysed ecosystem types, helping to reveal current gaps and future research needs. Furthermore, the implementation of SEEA-EA can serve as a basis to support the operationalisation of Nature Based-Solutions, safeguarding ecosystem condition and sustainably providing ecosystem services.