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Assessing Biodiversity for Ecosystem Accounts: Methods and Applications

This paper reviews existing studies on biodiversity measures for compiling ecosystem diagnostic accounts and explores their applicability using available data. It discusses the potential components of biodiversity indices for ecosystem accounts and examines the methodology for assessing biodiversity condition against a reference point. The paper also suggests a way forward for incorporating biodiversity data into accounting frameworks.

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Assessing Biodiversity for Ecosystem Accounts: Methods and Applications

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  1. Rocky HarrisDefra UK Issue 6 Biodiversity accounts and indices

  2. Task • Biodiversity is an attribute of ecosystem resilience and therefore an important proxy indicator for assessing changes and risks over time • Review existing studies on the applicability of biodiversity measures for compiling regular ecosystem diagnostic accounts taking into account data availability

  3. Papers • Jane McDonald – University of Queensland Key concepts for accounting for biodiversity • Ivanov et al – Developing a diagnostic species and biotope index plus • Per Arild et al – Nature Index (‘framework methodology and data’ synthesis paper) plus slides • Gregoire Certain, Olav Skarpaas NINA ‘Framework, methodology and data’ (Copenhagen May 2011) • CBD SBSTTA recommendation XV/1 • Ben Ten Brink ‘Indicators as communication tools’ • RIVM – Natural Capital Index – framework and application

  4. Papers • Jane McDonald – University of Queensland Key concepts for accounting for biodiversity • Ivanov et al – Developing a diagnostic species and biotope index plus • Per Arild et al – Nature Index (‘framework methodology and data’ synthesis paper) plus slides • Gregoire Certain, Olav Skarpaas NINA ‘Framework, methodology and data’ (Copenhagen May 2011) • CBD SBSTTA recommendation XV/1 • Ben Ten Brink ‘Indicators as communication tools • RIVM – Natural Capital Index – framework and application

  5. Australia paper • Carried out a review • Construct an index – focusing on species of flora and fauna • Biodiversity features in the accounts in several ways: • as an environmental asset • as an input into economic production • as an input into the ecosystem, which generates services • as an indicator of ecosystem condition • as an ecosystem service • 3 potential measurement units – monetary; physical; and condition metrics using a set of indicators

  6. Australia recommendations • Biodiversity indicators can be used for each of the five different components of ecosystem accounts • Need to test diagnostic capacities of biodiversity indicators • Best to describe biodiversity as an asset • Probably most robust for use of biodiversity as input to production • Precedent of SEEA mixing monetary and physical data should be extended to condition indices

  7. Norway paper • Nature index consists of 310 biodiversity indicators • Also included estimate of uncertainty, to guide areas for further research • Indicators scaled by a reference value to produce an index • Reference value is intended to reflect an ecologically sustainable state • Indicator values are between 0 and 1 and can be averaged across different geographical or habitat groups • Weightings applied to solve issues of ecological significance of the index • Provides information on the current state of ecosystems

  8. Issues • Can indices of condition/state of biodiversity be used as an input of data into an account? • If so, do we agree with Australia paper that there are 5 potential components of accounts to which biodiversity indices might contribute? Which ones are the most relevant? • as an environmental asset • as an input into economic production • as an input into the ecosystem, which generates services • as an indicator of ecosystem condition • as an ecosystem service • Is the methodology for assessing condition against a reference point sufficiently well-established and robust for accounting purposes? What is the way forward?

  9. Issues • Can indices of condition/state of biodiversity be used as an input of data into an account? • If so, do we agree with Australia paper that there are 5 potential components of accounts to which biodiversity indices might contribute? Which ones are the most relevant? • as an environmental asset • as an input into economic production • as an input into the ecosystem, which generates services • as an indicator of ecosystem condition • as an ecosystem service • Is the methodology for assessing condition against a reference point sufficiently well-established and robust for accounting purposes? What is the way forward?

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