Publications

Ecosystem accounts, as formalized by the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting Experimental Ecosystem Accounts (SEEA EEA), have been compiled in a number of countries, yet there have been few attempts to develop them for the U.S. We explore the potential for U.S. ecosystem accounting by compiling ecosystem extent, condition, and ecosystem services supply and use accounts for a 10-state region in the Southeast. The pilot accounts address air quality, water quality, biodiversity, carbon storage, recreation, and pollination for selected years from 2001 to 2015. Results illustrate how information from ecosystem accounts can contribute to policy and decision making. [Read more…] about Testing Ecosystem Accounting in the United States: a Case Study for the Southeast

Legal Instruments to Protect Ecosystem Services: Alexandre Altmann presented in Coimbra University Faculty of Law (Portugal) the PhD thesis denominated “Legal Instruments to Protect Ecosystem Services”. The author proposes the adoption of a “Legal Theory of Ecosystem Services” to systematize and operationalize the ES concept in the design of laws, court decisions, contracts, political / administrative decision making, etc. Author contact: [email protected]

Biodiversity increasing yield in a paddy field: researchers from São João Del Rey University, in the Southwest of Brazil highlighted the importance of preserving heterogeneity of paddy fields, which may increase species and benefits they provide to the crop. More information with Anderson O. Latini – [email protected]