Putting users first: new memorandum sets out 10 recommendations for developing ecosystem accounting in Finland

Ecosystem accounting brings together data on natural ecosystems, ecosystem services and their links to economic activity. Under the new EU regulation, member states will submit ecosystem accounts for the first time by the end of the year.

In autumn 2025, Sitra convened Finnish stakeholders to identify decision-making situations in which ecosystem accounting data could be used. Representatives from 18 organisations including ministries, research institutes, companies and interest organisations took part. The stakeholders also co-developed measures to support the use of ecosystem accounting data, which were compiled into a set of ten recommendations.

Natural capital accounting extends the national accounts framework, providing a way to examine the importance of nature to the economy. At its core is the international statistical standard and recommendation for ecosystem accounting (SEEA EA) adopted by the United Nations Statistical Commission, which makes it possible to assess the extent and condition of ecosystems, the services they provide and their monetary value.

The information the accounts provide supports decisions in areas such as land use, economic policy and risk management. The importance of nature becomes more pronounced in times of crisis: a resilient ecosystem helps to safeguard security of supply and societal resilience, such as food security and the capacity to cope with extreme weather events. Nature also has a positive effect on human health and functional capacity.

“Nature is critically important capital that enables the functioning of the economy and society. Ecosystem accounting gives Finland a tool to monitor this capital systematically and to make the benefits nature provides more visible in decision-making,” says Tatu Leinonen, Specialist at Sitra.

According to the memorandum, the development work needs a clear mandate, adequate resources and clearly defined responsibilities if the information is to be put to effective use in decision-making. The commitment of political decision-makers and the senior leadership of key organisations supports the fulfilment of these preconditions. The project was carried out with funding from the European Union Technical Support Instrument, in cooperation with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Use cases have been identified, but practical experience is still limited

The stakeholders identified several potential use cases for the accounts. In the public sector, these include cost–benefit analyses, impact assessments in legislative drafting, the monitoring of national strategies and targets, and land-use planning.

The accounts could also support risk analysis and scenario planning in the public sector (for example, to support assessments of the sustainability of public finances) as well as by businesses and the financial sector. The monetary valuation of ecosystem services was also considered important.

Practical experience in using national ecosystem accounts in decision-making remains limited in Finland for the time being. In Estonia, for example, national ecosystem datasets have been used to support decisions on the siting of wind power installations, and in the Netherlands to analyse green spaces and ecosystem services at the municipal level.

Municipal-level ecosystem accounting has already been developed in Finland in several projects based on the needs of municipalities (see, for example, the municipal ecosystem accounting web page).

Ten recommendations to support the use of national ecosystem accounting

The key output of the memorandum is the list of ten recommendations, divided into five themes: identifying needs and integrating ecosystem accounting into decision-making, continuity of data production, access to data, effective communication, and cooperation and international interaction.

To place user needs at the centre of development, the memorandum recommends establishing a cross-governmental working group, drawing up a phased roadmap, and carrying out pilot projects tailored to the needs of ministries and other key users. It also highlights securing the production of key source data, such as land cover data.

The memorandum also outlines a concept for developing the accounts, emphasising a phased approach and cost-effectiveness.

When properly implemented and used, ecosystem accounting can strengthen the evidence base for decision-making and support the work of Finland and Finnish actors in promoting a nature positive transition and the implementation of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).