How the ecosystem extent is changing: A national-level accounting approach and application

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Ecosystem Accounting
• Natural Capital Assessment

Background:

• Quantifying ecosystem changes is vital for natural capital accounting.
• Existing methods present challenges for national statistical integration.
• The international system of environmental-economic accounting now includes ecosystem standards.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel approach for developing ecosystem extent accounts.
• To provide spatial and statistical accounts for 26 ecosystem types in Spain (1970-2015).
• To establish a robust national-level methodology for measuring ecosystem extent.

Main Methods:

• Utilized existing ecosystem classifications to develop extent accounts.
• Analyzed spatial and temporal changes at a 25m resolution.
• Focused on national-scale data for Spain.

Main Results:

• Documented changes in 26 ecosystem types from 1970 to 2015.
• Observed an increase in forest ecosystems.
• Noted a decrease in agroecosystems and a significant increase in urban areas.

Conclusions:

• The developed method offers a robust approach to national ecosystem extent accounting.
• Findings highlight critical shifts in Spain's ecosystem landscape.
• This methodology supports integrating natural capital into national statistics and policy.