Accounting for Nature 2016

NRM Regions Australia, the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists and associated scientists, and experts in Commonwealth and state agencies undertook a four-year trial to develop a set of regionally-based environmental accounts which measure the condition of environmental assets. The trial tested the operational aspects and institutional arrangements for carrying out an ongoing national environmental accounts program, based on the Wentworth Group’s Accounting for Nature model proposed in 2008.

Accounting for Nature 2016 builds on the experience from the regional environmental accounts trial and our involvement in the development of the international System of Environmental Economic Accounts. It describes:

  • the policy context – why we need environmental accounting;
  • the method developed from the practical experience of the trial; and
  • how these environmental accounts can then be used by government to guide public investments.



Citation

Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, 2016. Accounting for Nature, Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, Sydney.

Acknowledgements

The Wentworth Group gratefully acknowledges the support and dedication of many scientists, economists and statisticians within Commonwealth and State agencies, staff and chairs of NRM Regions Australia, and other research and policy institutions in Australia, and internationally. In particular, we thank those who contributed to the regional Australian trial between 2011 and 2015 (listed in the appendix to the report). We also thank the Purves Environmental Fund and The Ian Potter Foundation for their ongoing personal and financial support.