System of Environmental Economic Accounting – Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA): e-Learning course

The e-Learning course System of Environmental Economic Accounting: Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA) was jointly organized by the UN Statistics Division (UNSD) and the UN Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (UNSIAP) from 11 April to 10 June 2022. 

The course introduced the SEEA EA, the international statistical standard for organizing data about ecosystems, measuring ecosystem services, tracking changes in ecosystem assets, and linking this information to economic and other human activity.

The SEEA EA framework takes a spatial approach to organizing information on ecosystems. It supports the compilation of indicators for several global policy frameworks including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and related SDG indicators and the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. The SEEA EA complements the accounts compiled in the SEEA Central Framework (SEEA CF) and together, SEEA EA and SEEA CF, provide a comprehensive framework for organizing data on the relationship between the environment and economy.

The course comprises 8 modules covering different topics on ecosystem accounts using self-paced e-learning modules and weekly live webinars. The self-paced e-learning modules are accessible via the UN Global Platform.

The weekly live webinars were facilitated by experts and practitioners in ecosystem accounting to provide an overview of the course topics and allow for participants to ask questions. The webinar recordings are available at the links below.

Webinar

Date

Resources

1. Introduction to the SEEA Ecosystem  Accounting
Sokol Vako, SIAP

14 April 2022

Presentation

Recording

2. Accounting for ecosystem extent
Sjoerd Schenau, Statistics Netherlands

20 April 2022

Presentation

Recording

3. Accounting for ecosystem condition 
Joachim Maes, European Commission

28 April 2022

Presentation

Recording

4. Accounting for ecosystem services
Alessandra La Notte, JRC, European Commission

6 May 2022

Presentation

Recording

5. Valuation of ecosystem services and ecosystem assets

Alejandro Caparros, Durham University

12 May 2022

Presentation

Recording

6. Biophysical modelling for ecosystem accounting
Bram Edens, UNSD

19 May 2022

Presentation

Recording

7. Compiling SDG indicators using SEEA EA
Julian Chow, UNSD

31 May 2022

Presentation

Recording

8. Using ecosystem accounts for policy scenario analysis
William Speller, UN Environment

2 June 2022

Presentation

Recording

9. Pioneering SEEA EA is South Africa: challenges, lessons learnt, and the way forward

Riaan Grobler, Statistics South Africa and Aimee Ginsburg, South African National Biodiversity Institute 

9 June 2022

Presentation

Recording

Event Date (GMT+9)

14 April 2022 to 10 June 2022

Documents

Guideline e-Learning SEEA EA