title: 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 provides the sustainable flow of the service. The study clarifies the difference between sustainable flow and actual flow of the service, which should be calculated jointly so as to enable an assessment of the sustainability of current use of ecosystem services. Finally, by distinguishing the notion of 'process' (referred to the ecosystem) from that of 'capacity' (pertaining specific services) and proposing a methodology to calculate capacity and flow, we suggest an implementable way to operationalize the SEEA-EEA accounts.
authors.affiliation: European Commission - Joint Research Centre, Directorate D - Sustainable Resources, Via Enrico Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, VA, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Notte
authors.affiliation: European Commission - Joint Research Centre, Directorate D - Sustainable Resources, Via Enrico Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, VA, Italy.
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Torino, Campus Luigi Einaudi, Lungo dora Siena 100, 10153 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dalmazzone
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Land and Water Flagship, Waite Campus, 5064 Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Neville D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Crossman
authors.affiliation: European Commission - Joint Research Centre, Directorate D - Sustainable Resources, Via Enrico Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, VA, Italy.
authors.forename: Bruna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grizzetti
authors.affiliation: European Commission - Joint Research Centre, Directorate D - Sustainable Resources, Via Enrico Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, VA, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bidoglio
keywords: Actual flow; Capacity; Ecosystem accounting; Ecosystem services; Q25; Q56; Q57; Sustainable flow; Water purification