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Mapping and Assessment for Integrated ecosystem Accounting (MAIA)

Project description

DEENESFRITPL

Taking stock of an ecosystem’s natural resources and services

Natural capital accounting (NCA) is used to calculate an ecosystem’s overall assets and the flows of natural resources and services it provides to society. The EU-funded MAIA project will support testing and implementation of NCA in 9 EU Member States and Norway as the mainstream method of natural capital and ecosystem accounting. The project will apply the System of Environmental Economic Accounting - Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA-EA) methodology, which provides a uniform structure for the analysis and storage of information on ecosystems' stocks and flows of ecosystem services, in both physical and monetary terms. MAIA will estimate policy priorities for accounting, test and promote NCA in 10 countries, test innovative techniques for NCA in the EU, and support diverse communication activities.

Objective

MAIA (Mapping and Assessment for Integrated ecosystem Accounting) aims to mainstream natural capital and ecosystem accounting (NCA) in EU member states. MAIA uses the System of Environmental Economic Accounting – Experimental Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA-EEA) as the methodological basis for NCA. The SEEA EEA provides a consistent framework for analysing and storing information on ecosystem assets and flows of ecosystem services, in both physical and monetary units. The SEEA EEA follows a spatial approach, requiring extensive (spatial) data and models as inputs into the accounts.

In MAIA, a flexible approach will be followed, allowing for adaptation of the SEEA EEA framework to the conditions of individual EU countries. In particular, MAIA will: (i) assess policy priorities for accounting; (ii) test, pilot and mainstream NCA in 10 countries; (iii) test innovative approaches for NCA in the European context; and (iv) support NCA in the EU through various communication and dissemination activities including the development of guidelines, a web-based information system and other facilitating actions. MAIA will involve in-country work in Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway and Spain but there will be outreach to all EU member states through exchanging data, guidelines and experiences.

The MAIA consortium includes a balanced mix of partners with backgrounds in statistics, ecological modelling and environmental economics, including three statistical agencies. In addition, MAIA has 18 supporting partners including statistical and other government agencies in 10 countries. Institutes with more experience will mentor and assist those with less experience. MAIA partners are involved in a range of other initiatives such as the SEEA London Group, MAES, ESMERALDA and IPBES, and includes partners supporting KIP INCA, which will facilitate exchanging experiences. Overall coordination of MAIA is with Wageningen University.

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Topic(s)

Call for proposal

H2020-SC5-2018-2019-2020

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Sub call

H2020-SC5-2018-1

Funding Scheme

CSA - Coordination and support action

Coordinator

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY
Net EU contribution
€ 560 750,00
Address
DROEVENDAALSESTEEG 4
6708 PB Wageningen
Netherlands

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Region
Oost-Nederland Gelderland Veluwe
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost
€ 560 750,00

Participants (20)

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Last update: 2 February 2024

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/817527

European Union, 2024