Ecosystem accounting methods could transform environmental policy and protect nature's value
The article explores different ways to measure the value of nature's benefits to help enhance how we account for ecosystems in our economic systems. By categorizing methods based on why we're valuing these benefits, it can prevent overestimating their worth and ensure consistency in measurement across different departments. The researchers looked at how ecosystem services contribute to national accounts and assessed the data needed for valuing them. They identified various ways to value ecosystem services depending on the type of service and pointed out gaps in current research. In the future, research can focus on improving methods for valuing these services accurately.