Marine accounts

In addition to mapping natural capital on land, Statistics Netherlands also works on measuring and understanding natural capital in the marine environment. Coastal and marine ecosystems are vital for sustaining human activities and well-being. They provide a range of ecosystem services, including wind energy production, food supply, raw materials, protection against storms and flooding, climate regulation, and recreational opportunities. Exploratory studies on the natural capital of the North Sea and the Wadden Sea have documented the extent and quality of coastal and marine ecosystems, as well as a selection of ecosystem services.

Wadden Sea

The Wadden Sea holds significant ecological, cultural, and historical value. This vast area, with its barrier islands, salt marshes, shallow waters, and tidal mudflats, forms a unique ecosystem It provides habitat for birds, marine mammals, and a wide range of plant and animal species. Additionally, it provides important services such as coastal protection, fishing, and tourism. An exploratory study was conducted to develop comprehensive ecosystem accounts for the Dutch part of the Wadden Sea, funded by Eurostat. The concepts and methods used in this study are currently being integrated into policy development (the Nature Policy Framework for the Wadden Sea).

North Sea

The North Sea is the largest natural area in the Netherlands. Its economic importance is also growing. In addition to traditional activities such as fishing and shipping, developments such as energy production are increasingly demanding space. As a result, the natural environment of the North Sea is increasingly subject to competition for space from economic activities.

An exploratory study was conducted focusing on the potential application of natural capital accounts to the Dutch North Sea, commissioned by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (I&W). This contributes to a better understanding of how we can responsibly and sustainably manage and utilize the North Sea for both current and future generations. Within this work, the concept of natural capital accounts has been expanded to explicitly incorporate the role of environmental pressures.