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#           Testing ecosystem accounting in the United States: A case study for the Southeast      

      April 8, 2020    

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 ten-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.  Using an example from Atlanta, we also show how ecosystem accounts can be considered alongside other SEEA accounts to give a more complete picture of a local area’s environmental-economic trends.  The process by which we determined where to place metrics within the accounting framework, which was strongly informed by the National Ecosystem Services Classification System (NESCS), can provide guidance for future ecosystem accounts in the U.S. and other countries.  Finally, we identify knowledge gaps that limit the inclusion of certain ecosystem services in the accounts and suggest future research that can close these gaps and improve future U.S. ecosystem accounts.

## Citation Information

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                  -              Data           
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February 17, 2023

####                 Data Release for Testing ecosystem accounting in the United States: A case study for the Southeast - 2022 Updates (version 2.0, February 2023)              

Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center

April 13, 2020

####                 Data Release for Testing ecosystem accounting in the United States: A case study for the Southeast              

Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center

#### Kenneth J. Bagstad, Ph.D.

##### Research Economist

Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center

kjbagstad@usgs.gov

303-236-1330

#### Pierre Glynn, Ph.D.

##### Scientist Emeritus

Science and Decisions Center

pglynn@usgs.gov

703-648-5823

## Related Content

February 17, 2023

####                 Data Release for Testing ecosystem accounting in the United States: A case study for the Southeast - 2022 Updates (version 2.0, February 2023)              

Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center

April 13, 2020

####                 Data Release for Testing ecosystem accounting in the United States: A case study for the Southeast              

Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center

#### Kenneth J. Bagstad, Ph.D.

##### Research Economist

Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center

kjbagstad@usgs.gov

303-236-1330

#### Pierre Glynn, Ph.D.

##### Scientist Emeritus

Science and Decisions Center

pglynn@usgs.gov

703-648-5823

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####               Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center          

Denver Federal CenterBuilding 25Denver, CO80225-0046United States

303-236-5345

#### John Wesley Powell Center for Earth System Analysis and Synthesis

Fort Collins Science Center (FORT)2150 Centre Ave Building CFort Collins, CO80526United States

powellcenter@usgs.gov

970-226-9103

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