Project
Mapping and Assessment for Integrated ecosystem Accounting
The Mapping and Assessment for Integrated ecosystem Accounting (MAIA) project aimed at mainstreaming Natural Capital and ecosystem Accounting (NCA) in the European Union. MAIA contributed to (1) forging linkages between (spatial) modelling, environmental economics and statistical communities across EU member states, (2) the further operationalization and mainstreaming of natural capital into wider decision making frameworks, (3) the recognition of the value and adoption of natural capital and ecosystem accounts by stakeholders and (4) further clarification and development of models and methodologies that can be used for NCA.
Introduction
Mapping and Assessment for Integrated ecosystem Accounting (MAIA) aimed to mainstream natural capital and ecosystem accounting (NCA) in EU member states (MS).
Objective
The main objectives of the project were to (1) Assess policy priorities for accounting, (2) Test, pilot and mainstream NCA within the EU and its MS, (3) Test innovative approaches for NCA in the European context and (4) Support NCA in EU MS through communication and dissemination activities.
Method
MAIA used the System of Environmental Economic Accounting – Experimental Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA-EEA) as the methodological basis for NCA. The SEEA EA is developed under auspices of the UN Statistical Commission. It provides a consistent framework for analysing and storing information on ecosystem assets and flows of ecosystem services. The SEEA is part of the System of National Accounts, used by statistical agencies world-wide for the production of economic and other statistics.
Results
Communities of practice on NCA established at EU and national scales.
Ecosystem accounts developed in 10 countries and mainstreamed in policy making.
Ecosystem accounts available in open access through a web visualization tool.
Innovative approaches developed:
- Water regulation services.
- Valuation of non-market services.
- Use of open access big data.
- Biodiversity accounting.
- Marine ecosystems accounts.
Best practice guidelines on bio-physical modelling and valuation of ES and assets for NCA.
One data management information system building on readily available large scale datasets and including an open access web-based portal for sharing data and models.
Publications
- Defining and spatially modelling cultural ecosystem services using crowdsourced data, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2020.101091
- Ecosystem accounting in the Netherlands, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2020.101118
- Development of SEEA water accounts with a hydrological model, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720336895
- Ecosystem accounting to support the Common Agricultural Policy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.108157
- Social media and deep learning capture the aesthetic quality of the landscape, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-99282-0#Ack1
- Ecosystem accounting: Past scientific developments and future challenges, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2022.101486
Understanding the sentiment associated with cultural ecosystem services using images and text from social media https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212041623000748