SEEA Technical Recommendations Flashcards
What is SEEA EEA for? (What does it integrate?)
The SEEA EEA framework provides a common platform for the integration of: (a) ecosystem assets-related information (i.e., on ecosystem extent, ecosystem condition, ecosystem services and ecosystem capacity); and (b) existing accounting information on economic and other human activity dependent upon ecosystems and the associated beneficiaries (households, businesses and governments).
What is ecosystem accounting?
The essence of ecosystem accounting lies in the partitioning of the biophysical environment into areas representing ecosystem assets. These include forests, wetlands, coral reefs etc.
How does the stock and change in stock asset is recorded
Thus, the stock and change in stock of each asset are recorded as a combination of: (a) balance-sheet entries at points in time; and (b) changes in assets through, for example, investment or depreciation and degradation.
What are stocks in accounting terms?
Stocks are underlying assets that support production and generation of income.
In what ways does SEEA EEA framework supports other ecosystem measurement initiatives
First, the SEEA EEA framework encompasses accounting for ecosystem assets in terms of both ecosystem condition and ecosystem services. Often, measurement of ecosystem asset condition and measurement of ecosystem services are undertaken in separate fields of research. Hence, there are relatively few studies in which ecosystem assets and services are conceptualized as comprehensively as here.3•Second, the SEEA EEA framework encompasses accounting in both bio-physical terms (e.g., hectares, tons) and monetary terms using various valuation techniques. •Third, the SEEA EEA framework is designed to facilitate comparison and integration with the economic data prepared in accordance with the System of National Accounts (SNA). That leads to the adoption of certain measurement boundaries and valuation concepts which are not system-atically applied in other forms of ecosystem measurement. The use of SNA-derived measurement principles and concepts facilitates the main-streaming of ecosystem information in standard measures of income, production and wealth. •Fourth, the general intent of the SEEA EEA framework is to provide a broad, cross-cutting perspective on ecosystems at a country or compre-hensive subnational level. However, as many ecosystem measurements are conducted at a detailed local level, the SEEA EEA framework is struc-tured in such a way as to enable detailed data, once placed in context, to be utilized to produce a richly textured picture of the condition of eco-systems and the services that they supply.
What are the two types of flows?
- change in stock
- investment/growth, improvement in conditions
- reductions in stock due to extarction, degradation or depreciation
- flows related to production, consumption and income ( +benefits)
How to represent an ecosystem asset in monetary terms?
The value of the underlying ecosystem assets can be estimated using net present value (NPV) techniques whereby the value of the asset is estimated as the discounted stream of income arising from the supply of a basket of ecosystem services that is attributable to an asset.
What is the difference between final ES and intermediate ES?
Final ES are those provided directly to for supply. Intermediate ES are those flowing between deffirent ecosystem assets -> important to record to show the dependencies of EA.
What is the difference between a minimum spatial approach vs a fully spatial approach?
Minimum spatial approach uses a lot less classifications of ecosystem assets ( around 10), does not need to be delineated spatially or for specific EA
What does biodiversity account do?
Records “keystone” species ( which are indicators of environmental quality) and the state of biodiversity itself ( number of rare, threatened, or endemic species)
