Forests that cool our climate, city parks that protect our emotional health, and seas that feed millions of people all have something in common: they are essential to our wellbeing, yet largely invisible in economic decision-making. A scientific study led by researchers from Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) reveals how this long-standing problem is slowly beginning to change.
The study was carried out by the MRU Environmental Management Research Laboratory team, led by Prof. Dr. Paulo Pereira. Their work looks at how countries and scientists around the world are trying to put nature “on the books” using an international framework known as the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting, or SEEA-EA.
Nature’s Hidden Role in the Economy
For decades, national economies have been measured using indicators that capture factories, services, and trade, but ignore the natural systems that make all of this possible. Clean water, fertile soils, climate regulation, and recreational spaces rarely appear in official statistics. SEEA-EA, adopted by the United Nations in 2021, was created to change this by systematically linking environmental data with economic accounts.
In simple terms, ecosystem accounting helps answer a crucial question: how much do nature and healthy ecosystems actually contribute to our economies and quality of life?
Inside the Research: What the Scientists Actually Did
To understand how this new system is being applied in practice, the MRU team carried out a large-scale review of existing scientific studies. Using a rigorous and transparent review method, they analysed 86 peer-reviewed articles published between 2007 and 2024.
The researchers focused on three types of ecosystems that are especially important for people and policy-making: forests, urban areas, and coastal and marine ecosystems. These environments represent very different realities, from well-studied forests to data-poor oceans, and together provide a clear picture of where ecosystem accounting is succeeding and where it still struggles.
The team examined what kinds of ecosystem accounts were produced, how ecosystem condition was measured, how services such as carbon storage, food provision, or recreation were valued, and whether changes over time were properly recorded.
Progress Made and Problems That Remain
The findings show that interest in ecosystem accounting has grown rapidly over the past decade, especially in Europe and Australia. Most studies focus on mapping ecosystem extent, how much forest, green space, or coastline exists, and on valuing ecosystem services in physical or monetary terms.
However, the research also exposes major gaps. Many studies fail to assess ecosystem condition in a consistent way or to define reference conditions that show what a healthy ecosystem should look like. Validation of results and uncertainty analysis are often missing, making it harder for decision-makers to fully trust and use the findings.
Coastal and marine ecosystems remain particularly underrepresented, largely because data are scarce and methods are still developing.
From Academic Exercise to Real-World Decisions
According to the MRU researchers, ecosystem accounting is no longer just a scientific exercise. Governments are increasingly required to report ecosystem accounts, especially in Europe, where new regulations will soon make them mandatory. If done properly, these accounts can guide better land-use planning, climate policy, biodiversity protection, and investment decisions.
By reviewing what has been done so far, the study sends a clear message: we are moving in the right direction, but much work remains. Better data, clearer methods, and stronger links between ecosystem health and economic benefits are essential.
In a world facing climate change, biodiversity loss, and growing social inequalities, counting nature properly may be one of the most important steps toward a more sustainable future.
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