Physical and monetary ecosystem service accounts for Europe: A case study for in-stream nitrogen retention.

ABSTRACT: In this paper we present a case study of integrated ecosystem and economic accounting based on the System of Environmental Economic Accounting - Experimental Ecosystem Accounts (SEEA-EEA). We develop accounts, in physical and monetary terms, for the water purification ecosystem service in Europe over a 20-year time period (1985-2005). The estimation of nitrogen retention is based on the GREEN biophysical model, within which we impose a sustainability threshold to obtain the physical indicators of capacity - the ability of an ecosystem to sustainably supply ecosystem services. Key messages of our paper pertain the notion of capacity, operationalized in accounting terms with reference to individual ecosystem services rather than to the ecosystem as a whole, and intended as the stock that pro

SUBMITTER: La Notte A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5351814 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature