Ecosystem accounting for the ocean

Since the inception of the System Environmental Economic Accounting Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA) framework, ecosystem accounting practitioners have asked for guidance on classifying coastal and marine ecosystem types, their conditions and services, as well as recommendations on the treatment of areas beyond national jurisdictions. GOAP collaborated with the UN Statistics Division to deliver this guidance through the SEEA Ecosystems revision. The revision was initiated in 2018 and culminated in a revised draft submitted to the UN Statistical Commission in 2021.

Through the SEEA Ecosystems Technical Committee/Editorial Board and its working groups (on spatial units, ecosystem condition, ecosystem services and valuation), GOAP has sought to align the Technical Guidance on Ocean Accounting with the concepts refined during the revision of the SEEA EA.

Resources

• The final draft of the SEEA EA
• The revision process note
• The Summary of feedback and responses to the Global Consultation on the complete draft of the SEEA EA