IDEEA Group has collaborated with experts from Griffith University and the Australian National University (ANU) to complete a review of the metrics for measuring ecosystem condition for the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW).
This project involved a deep dive into the relationship between the United Nations’ System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) and ecosystem condition measurement in Australia. Ultimately, this work will support further development of an ecosystem condition account for Australia.
You may remember that, in March 2025, the Australian Government published Australia’s first comprehensive set of National Ecosystem Accounts. This review complements the ongoing work in ecosystem accounting at the national level.
What did the project involve?
The project wrapped up last month with a final presentation on:
- the review of the metrics and methods for measuring ecosystem condition
- development of an implementation plan for ecosystem condition accounting.
Heather Keith, Michael Vardon, Mark Eigenraam, Brendan Mackey, Carl Obst, Maria Angeloupolos and Simone Maynard presented this work.
The review asked:
- What can we learn from available Australian and international ecosystem condition methods to support further development of an Australian condition account? This considers the method’s purpose, scope and alignment with the SEEA.
- How can Australia implement a condition accounting framework that is fit-for purpose?
- What ecosystem characteristics should we measure as part of future ecosystem condition accounts?
- based on identifying metrics and methods that have been, or could be, used to describe condition
- assessed against selection criteria
- How can the account be comprehensive of the range of characteristics described in the ecosystem condition typology?
You can download the slides from the presentation here. The slides cover:
- the tasks for the condition review
- an introduction to the SEEA
- conceptions of condition
- requirements for the SEEA condition account
- results from the review and analysis.
What did the project team suggest?
The report suggests that a national ecosystem account should:
- be fit-for-purpose in line with the National Ecosystem Accounts
- align with the SEEA EA Ecosystem Condition Typology
- cover terrestrial, freshwater and marine realms across the Australian continent and exclusive economic zone
- use metrics that support multiple views and dimensions, and their uses of ecosystem condition accounts
- require expertise from a range of disciplines to implement
- follow a timeframe for implementation, including:
- producing short-term results, including data available that can be employed in the next 2-3 years
- building long-term capacity, including development of data that may be available for incorporation in National Ecosystem Accounts through DCCEEW’s continuous improvement program to 2031.
IDEEA Group looks forward to continuing to support the progress of the compilation and use of ecosystem condition accounts in Australia. Please feel welcome to reach out to us at any time to discuss ecosystem condition or ecosystem accounts more generally.
