methodology of concept paper example

How To Write a Concept Paper for Academic Research: An Ultimate Guide

A concept paper is one of the first steps in helping you fully realize your research project. Because of this, some schools opt to teach students how to write concept papers as early as high school. In college, professors sometimes require their students to submit concept papers before suggesting their research projects to serve as the foundations for their theses.

If you’re reading this right now, you’ve probably been assigned by your teacher or professor to write a concept paper. To help you get started, we’ve prepared a comprehensive guide on how to write a proper concept paper.

Related: How to Write Significance of the Study (with Examples)

Table of Contents

What is the concept paper, 1. academic research concept papers, 2. advertising concept papers, 3. research grant concept papers, concept paper vs. research proposal, tips for finding your research topic, 2. think of research questions that you want to answer in your project, 3. formulate your research hypothesis, 4. plan out how you will achieve, analyze, and present your data, 2. introduction, 3. purpose of the study, 4. preliminary literature review, 5. objectives of the study, 6. research questions and hypotheses, 7. proposed methodology, 8. proposed research timeline, 9. references, sample concept paper for research proposal (pdf), tips for writing your concept paper.

Generally, a concept paper is a summary of everything related to your proposed project or topic. A concept paper indicates what the project is all about, why it’s important, and how and when you plan to conduct your project.

Different Types of the Concept Paper and Their Uses

This type of concept paper is the most common type and the one most people are familiar with. Concept papers for academic research are used by students to provide an outline for their prospective research topics.

These concept papers are used to help students flesh out all the information and ideas related to their topic so that they may arrive at a more specific research hypothesis.

Since this is the most common type of concept paper, it will be the main focus of this article.

Advertising concept papers are usually written by the creative and concept teams in advertising and marketing agencies.

Through a concept paper, the foundation or theme for an advertising campaign or strategy is formed. The concept paper can also serve as a bulletin board for ideas that the creative and concept teams can add to or develop. 

This type of concept paper usually discusses who the target audience of the campaign is, what approach of the campaign will be, how the campaign will be implemented, and the projected benefits and impact of the campaign to the company’s sales, consumer base, and other aspects of the company.

This type of concept paper is most common in the academe and business world. Alongside proving why your research project should be conducted, a research grant concept paper must also appeal to the company or funding agency on why they should be granted funds.

The paper should indicate a proposed timeline and budget for the entire project. It should also be able to persuade the company or funding agency on the benefits of your research project– whether it be an increase in sales or productivity or for the benefit of the general public.

It’s important to discuss the differences between the two because a lot of people often use these terms interchangeably.

A concept paper is one of the first steps in conducting a research project. It is during this process that ideas and relevant information to the research topic are gathered to produce the research hypothesis. Thus, a concept paper should always precede the research proposal. 

A research proposal is a more in-depth outline of a more fleshed-out research project. This is the final step before a researcher can conduct their research project. Although both have similar elements and structures, a research proposal is more specific when it comes to how the entire research project will be conducted.

Getting Started on Your Concept Paper

1. find a research topic you are interested in.

When choosing a research topic, make sure that it is something you are passionate about or want to learn more about. If you are writing one for school, make sure it is still relevant to the subject of your class. Choosing a topic you aren’t invested in may cause you to lose interest in your project later on, which may lower the quality of the research you’ll produce.

A research project may last for months and even years, so it’s important that you will never lose interest in your topic.

• Look for inspiration everywhere. Take a walk outside, read books, or go on your computer. Look around you and try to brainstorm ideas about everything you see. Try to remember any questions you might have asked yourself before like why something is the way it is or why can’t this be done instead of that . 
• Think big. If you’re having trouble thinking up a specific topic to base your research project on, choosing a broad topic and then working your way down should help.
• Is it achievable? A lot of students make the mistake of choosing a topic that is hard to achieve in terms of materials, data, and/or funding available. Before you decide on a research topic, make sure you consider these aspects. Doing so will save you time, money, and effort later on.
• Be as specific as can be. Another common mistake that students make is that they sometimes choose a research topic that is too broad. This results in extra effort and wasted time while conducting their research project. For example: Instead of “The Effects of Bananas on Hungry Monkeys” , you could specify it to “The Effects of Cavendish Bananas on Potassium-deficiency in Hungry Philippine Long-tailed Macaques in Palawan, Philippines”.

Now that you have a general idea of the topic of your research project, you now need to formulate research questions based on your project. These questions will serve as the basis for what your project aims to answer. Like your research topic, make sure these are specific and answerable.

Following the earlier example, possible research questions could be:

• Do Cavendish bananas produce more visible effects on K-deficiency than other bananas?
• How susceptible are Philippine long-tailed macaques to K-deficiency?
• What are the effects of K-deficiency in Philippine long-tailed macaques?

After formulating the research questions, you should also provide your hypothesis for each question. A research hypothesis is a tentative answer to the research problem. You must provide educated answers to the questions based on your existing knowledge of the topic before you conduct your research project.

After conducting research and collecting all of the data into the final research paper, you will then have to approve or disprove these hypotheses based on the outcome of the project.

Prepare a plan on how to acquire the data you will need for your research project. Take note of the different types of analysis you will need to perform on your data to get the desired results. Determine the nature of the relationship between different variables in your research.

Also, make sure that you are able to present your data in a clear and readable manner for those who will read your concept paper. You can achieve this by using tables, charts, graphs, and other visual aids.

Related: How to Make Conceptual Framework (with Examples and Templates)

Generalized Structure of a Concept Paper

Since concept papers are just summaries of your research project, they are usually short and  no longer than 5 pages. However, for big research projects, concept papers can reach up to more than 20 pages.

Your teacher or professor may give you a certain format for your concept papers. Generally, most concept papers are double-spaced and are less than 500 words in length. 

Even though there are different types of concept papers, we’ve provided you with a generalized structure that contains elements that can be found in any type of concept paper.

The title for your paper must be able to effectively summarize what your research is all about. Use simple words so that people who read the title of your research will know what it’s all about even without reading the entire paper. 

The introduction should give the reader a brief background of the research topic and state the main objective that your project aims to achieve. This section should also include a short overview of the benefits of the research project to persuade the reader to acknowledge the need for the project.

The Purpose of the Study should be written in a way that convinces the reader of the need to address the existing problem or gap in knowledge that the research project aims to resolve. In this section, you have to go into more detail about the benefits and value of your project for the target audience/s. 

This section features related studies and papers that will support your research topic. Use this section to analyze the results and methodologies of previous studies and address any gaps in knowledge or questions that your research project aims to answer. You may also use the data to assert the importance of conducting your research.

When choosing which papers and studies you should include in the Preliminary Literature Review, make sure to choose relevant and reliable sources. Reliable sources include academic journals, credible news outlets, government websites, and others. Also, take note of the authors for the papers as you will need to cite them in the References section.

Simply state the main objectives that your research is trying to achieve. The objectives should be able to indicate the direction of the study for both the reader and the researcher. As with other elements in the paper, the objectives should be specific and clearly defined.

Gather the research questions and equivalent research hypotheses you formulated in the earlier step and list them down in this section.

In this section, you should be able to guide the reader through the process of how you will conduct the research project. Make sure to state the purpose for each step of the process, as well as the type of data to be collected and the target population.

Depending on the nature of your research project, the length of the entire process can vary significantly. What’s important is that you are able to provide a reasonable and achievable timeline for your project.

Make sure the time you will allot for each component of your research won’t be too excessive or too insufficient so that the quality of your research won’t suffer.

Ensure that you will give credit to all the authors of the sources you used in your paper. Depending on your area of study or the instructions of your professor, you may need to use a certain style of citation.

There are three main citation styles: the American Psychological Association (APA), Modern Language Association (MLA), and the Chicago style.

The APA style is mostly used for papers related to education, psychology, and the sciences. The APA citation style usually follows this format:

The MLA citation style is the format used by papers and manuscripts in disciplines related to the arts and humanities. The MLA citation style follows this format:

The Chicago citation style is usually used for papers related to business, history, and the fine arts. It follows this citation format:

This is a concept paper sample provided by Dr. Bernard Lango from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (modified for use in this article). Simply click the link above the download the PDF file.

• Use simple, concise language. Minimize the use of flowery language and always try to use simple and easy-to-understand language. Too many technical or difficult words in your paper may alienate your readers and make your paper hard to read. 
• Choose your sources wisely. When scouring the Internet for sources to use, you should always be wary and double-check the authenticity of your source. Doing this will increase the authenticity of your research project’s claims and ensure better data gathered during the process.
• Follow the specified format, if any. Make sure to follow any specified format when writing your concept paper. This is very important, especially if you’re writing your concept paper for class. Failure to follow the format will usually result in point deductions and delays because of multiple revisions needed.
• Proofread often. Make it a point to reread different sections of your concept paper after you write them. Another way you can do this is by taking a break for a few days and then coming back to proofread your writing. You may notice certain areas you’d like to revise or mistakes you’d like to fix. Make proofreading a habit to increase the quality of your paper.

Written by Ruth Raganit

in Career and Education , Juander How

Ruth Raganit

Ruth Raganit obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the University of the Philippines – Diliman. Her love affair with Earth sciences began when she saw a pretty rock and wondered how it came to be. She also likes playing video games, doing digital art, and reading manga.

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What is a Concept Paper and How do You Write One?

• By DiscoverPhDs
• August 26, 2020

What is a Concept Paper?

A concept paper is a short document written by a researcher before starting their research project, with the purpose of explaining what the study is about, why it is important and the methods that will be used.

The concept paper will include your proposed research title, a brief introduction to the subject, the aim of the study, the research questions you intend to answer, the type of data you will collect and how you will collect it. A concept paper can also be referred to as a research proposal.

What is the Purpose of a Concept Paper?

The primary aim of a research concept paper is to convince the reader that the proposed research project is worth doing. This means that the reader should first agree that the research study is novel and interesting. They should be convinced that there is a need for this research and that the research aims and questions are appropriate.

Finally, they should be satisfied that the methods for data collection proposed are feasible, are likely to work and can be performed within the specific time period allocated for this project.

The three main scenarios in which you may need to write a concept paper are if you are:

• A final year undergraduate or master’s student preparing to start a research project with a supervisor.
• A student submitting a research proposal to pursue a PhD project under the supervision of a professor.
• A principal investigator submitting a proposal to a funding body to secure financial support for a research project.

How Long is a Concept Paper?

The concept paper format is usually between 2 and 3 pages in length for students writing proposals for undergraduate, master’s or PhD projects. Concept papers written as part of funding applications may be over 20 pages in length.

How do you Write a Concept Paper?

There are 6 important aspects to consider when writing a concept paper or research proposal:

• 1. The wording of the title page, which is best presented as a question for this type of document. At this study concept stage, you can write the title a bit catchier, for example “Are 3D Printed Engine Parts Safe for Use in Aircraft?”.
• A brief introduction and review of relevant existing literature published within the subject area and identification of where the gaps in knowledge are. This last bit is particularly important as it guides you in defining the statement of the problem. The concept paper should provide a succinct summary of ‘the problem’, which is usually related to what is unknown or poorly understood about your research topic . By the end of the concept paper, the reader should be clear on how your research idea will provide a ‘solution’ to this problem.
• The overarching research aim of your proposed study and the objectives and/or questions you will address to achieve this aim. Align all of these with the problem statement; i.e. write each research question as a clear response to addressing the limitations and gaps identified from previous literature. Also give a clear description of your primary hypothesis.
• The specific data outputs that you plan to capture. For example, will this be qualitative or quantitative data? Do you plan to capture data at specific time points or at other defined intervals? Do you need to repeat data capture to asses any repeatability and reproducibility questions?
• The research methodology you will use to capture this data, including any specific measurement or analysis equipment and software you will use, and a consideration of statistical tests to help interpret the data. If your research requires the use of questionnaires, how will these be prepared and validated? In what sort of time frame would you plan to collect this data?
• Finally, include a statement of the significance of the study , explaining why your research is important and impactful. This can be in the form of a concluding paragraph that reiterate the statement of the problem, clarifies how your research will address this and explains who will benefit from your research and how.

You may need to include a short summary of the timeline for completing the research project. Defining milestones of the time points at which you intend to complete certain tasks can help to show that you’ve considered the practicalities of running this study. It also shows that what you have proposed is feasible in order to achieve your research goal.

If you’re pitching your proposed project to a funder, they may allocate a proportion of the money based on the satisfactory outcome of each milestone. These stakeholders may also be motivated by knowing that you intend to convert your dissertation into an article for journal publication; this level of dissemination is of high importance to them.

Additionally, you may be asked to provide a brief summary of the projected costs of running the study. For a PhD project this could be the bench fees associated with consumables and the cost of any travel if required.

Make sure to include references and cite all other literature and previous research that you discuss in your concept paper.

This guide gave you an overview of the key elements you need to know about when writing concept papers. The purpose of these are first to convey to the reader what your project’s purpose is and why your research topic is important; this is based on the development of a problem statement using evidence from your literature review.

Explain how it may positively impact your research field and if your proposed research design is appropriate and your planned research method achievable.

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What exactly is a Concept Paper, and how do you write one?

Learn why a concept paper is important, what the main elements of a research concept paper are, and how to create an excellent one.

Prior to submitting a formal proposal (business proposal, product, or research proposal), many private organizations have historically asked for the submission of a concept paper for review. 

Recently, organizations have begun to advocate for the usage of concept papers as a way for applicants to obtain informal input on their ideas and projects before submitting a proposal. Several of these organizations now demand a concept paper as part of the official application process. 

Simply described, a concept paper is a preliminary document that explains the purpose of research, why it is being conducted, and how it will be performed. It examines a concept or idea and offers an outline of the topic that a researcher wants to pursue. Continue reading to learn more about concept papers and how to create a good one. 

What a concept paper is and its purpose

A concept paper is a brief paper that outlines the important components of a research or project before it is carried out. Its purpose is to offer an overview. Entrepreneurs working on a business idea or product, as well as students and researchers, frequently write concept papers .  

Researchers may be required to prepare a concept paper when submitting a project proposal to a funding authority to acquire the required grants.

As a consequence, the importance is based on the fact that it should help the examiner determine whether the research is relevant, practicable, and useful . 

If not, they may suggest looking into a different research area. It also allows the examiner to assess your comprehension of the research and, as a result, if you are likely to require assistance in completing the research.

Illustrate your Concept Paper with infographics 

Infographics are very useful to explain complex subjects in a very short time. Use Mind the Graph to create beautiful infographics for your Concept Paper with scientifically accurate illustrations, icons, arrows and many other design tools.

Concept paper’s elements for an academic research 

To produce an effective concept paper, you must first comprehend the essential elements of academic research:

• Title page: Mention the applicant’s name, institution, project title, and submission date.
• Background for the research: The second section should be the purpose section, which should be able to clear out what has already been stated about the subject, any gaps in information that need to be filled or problems to be solved, as well as the reason why you wish to examine the issue.
• Literature review: In this section, you should provide a theoretical basis and supporting material for your chosen subject.
• State the problem and your goals: Describe the overall problems, including the research questions and objectives. State your research’s unique and original aspects, concentrate on providing and clearly discussing your goals towards the problem.
• Methodology: Provide the data analysis system to be utilized, data collecting method, tools to be used, and research participants in this section.
• Timeline: Include a realistic timeline estimate that is defined in months and years.
• References: Add a list of all sources cited in your concept paper , such as books, journals, and other resources.

Tips on writing an effective concept paper

A concept paper is extremely crucial for a project or research, especially if it requires funding. Check out these simple tips to ensure your concept paper is successful and simple.

• Choose a research topic that truly piques your curiosity
• Create a list of research questions. The more, the merrier.
• When describing the project’s reasoning, use data and numbers. 
• Use no more than 5 single-spaced pages. 
• Tailor your speech to the appropriate audience.
• Make certain that the basic format elements, such as page numbers, are included. 
• Spend additional time on your timeline as this section is critical for funding.
• Give specific examples of how you plan to measure your progress toward your goals.
• Provide an initial budget when seeking funds. Sponsors will want to obtain an idea of how much funds are required.

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How to Write a Concept Paper Easily with Our Guide

Did you know that some of the most revolutionary ideas in history started with a simple concept paper? From scientific breakthroughs to groundbreaking inventions, the power of well-crafted concept papers cannot be underestimated.

In this article, experts at our academic essay writing service will demystify the process of writing a concept paper, offering straightforward tips and guidance to help you articulate your ideas effectively. Whether you're a researcher, entrepreneur, or student, you'll lay the foundation for your next big endeavor effortlessly.

Defining What is a Concept Paper

A concept paper is a starting point for any major project or research endeavor. When you're asked to write one, what your teachers or professors are really asking for is a clear, concise summary of what you plan to explore or investigate. It's your chance to explain your idea, why it matters, and how you're going to tackle it.

Imagine you're pitching your idea to someone who doesn't know anything about it. You want to grab their attention and get them excited about what you're planning to do. That's what a concept paper is all about – setting the stage for your project or research in a way that makes people want to learn more.

Don't Delay Your Scholarly Pursuits!

Our team is here to nurture your concepts! Seize this opportunity to lay the groundwork for your academic exploration.

Why Does a Concept Paper Matter

So, why does knowing how to write a concept paper for academic research matter? First off, it helps you clarify your thoughts and organize your ideas. Writing down your concept forces you to think through the details of your project, which can be super helpful, especially when things start to get overwhelming.

Secondly, it's a way to get feedback early on. By sharing your concept paper with your teachers, advisors, or classmates, you can get valuable input that can help you refine your idea and make it even better.

Plus, it shows that you're serious about your project. Taking the time to write a concept paper demonstrates to your instructors that you've put thought and effort into your work, which can earn you some serious brownie points.

Understanding How Long is a Concept Paper

When it comes to the length of a concept paper, think quality over quantity. It's not about hitting a specific word count; it's about conveying your ideas clearly and concisely. In general, a concept paper is meant to be short and to the point. You want to give enough detail to explain your idea thoroughly, but you don't want to overwhelm your reader with unnecessary information.

As a rule of thumb, most concept papers range from 1 to 3 pages. However, this can vary depending on your specific assignment or the requirements of the project you're proposing.

The key is to focus on the essentials. Include a brief introduction to your topic, a clear statement of your purpose or objective, an overview of your methodology or approach, and a summary of the potential impact or significance of your project. And if you ever need further help, simply ask us - write my research paper for the professionally crafted project.

Concept Paper Vs. Research Paper

While both concept papers and research papers are common in academia, they serve different purposes and have distinct formats.

A concept paper, as we've discussed, is a concise document that outlines the basic idea or proposal for a project. It's like the blueprint or roadmap for your research endeavor. The focus here is on articulating the central concept, defining the objectives, and outlining the methodology. Think of writing a concept paper as laying the groundwork before diving into the detailed work of a research project.

On the other hand, a research paper is a more comprehensive and in-depth exploration of a topic or question. It involves conducting original research, analyzing data, and presenting findings in a formal written format. Research papers typically follow a structured format, including an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion.

How to Write a Concept Paper in 8 Steps

Alright, getting into the nitty-gritty of writing your concept paper format might seem a bit overwhelming at first, but don't worry! We've got your back. By breaking down the process into eight manageable steps, we'll guide you through each stage with clarity and confidence.

Define the Study Title and Its Objectives

The first crucial step in crafting your concept paper is to clearly define the study title and its objectives. This sets the foundation for your entire paper and helps guide your research direction.

Begin by crafting a clear and concise title that effectively communicates the essence of your study. Your title should be descriptive yet succinct, giving readers a glimpse into the focus of your research.

Next, outline the objectives of your study. What specific goals do you aim to achieve through your research? Be precise and realistic in outlining these objectives, ensuring they are achievable within the scope of your study.

Explain the Study's Context and Extent

After defining the title and objectives, it's essential to provide context and define the extent of your study. This step of how to write a concept paper for college helps readers understand the background and scope of your research.

Start by providing background information on the topic of your study. Discuss relevant theories, concepts, or existing research that contextualizes your work and highlights its importance.

Next, define the extent of your study by outlining its boundaries and limitations. What specific aspects of the topic will you focus on, and what areas will you exclude? Clarifying these boundaries helps ensure that your research remains focused and manageable.

Additionally, consider discussing the significance of your study within the broader field. How does your research contribute to existing knowledge, and what potential impact does it have?

Identify the Issue

This is where you clearly articulate the core challenge or question that your research seeks to explore. Start by providing a concise overview of the issue at hand. What is the specific problem or question that motivates your research? Why is it important or relevant within your field of study?

Next, consider providing context or background information that helps readers understand the significance of the issue. This could include discussing relevant trends, statistics, or real-world examples that highlight the importance of addressing the problem.

Finally, be sure to articulate the significance of the issue within the broader context of your field. Why is it important to study this particular issue, and what potential impact could your research have on addressing it?

List Goals and Objectives

In this step, you'll make a concept paper outline of the specific goals and objectives of your study. Goals represent the broader aims of your research, while objectives provide clear, measurable steps toward achieving those goals.

Start by defining your overarching goals. What do you hope to accomplish through your research? Think about the broader outcomes or changes you aim to bring about in your field or community.

Next, break down these goals into smaller, achievable objectives. Objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). They should outline the concrete steps you will take to accomplish your goals.

Consider organizing your goals and objectives into a hierarchical structure, with broader goals at the top and more specific objectives underneath. Even if you'd rather buy essay from our pros, this step will help you provide clarity and coherence to your research plan.

Approach and Methodology

In this step, you'll detail the approach and methodology you'll use to conduct your research. According to our expert thesis writing services , this section is crucial as it outlines the methods you'll employ to address your research question and achieve your objectives.

Start by explaining your overall approach to research. Will you be conducting qualitative or quantitative research, or perhaps a combination of both? Describe the rationale behind your chosen approach and how it aligns with your research goals.

Next, outline the specific methodologies you'll use to collect and analyze data. This may include methods such as surveys, interviews, experiments, or literature reviews. Provide justification for why each method is appropriate for addressing your research question and objectives.

Be sure to consider any ethical considerations or limitations associated with your chosen methodologies and outline how you plan to address them.

Finally, discuss your data analysis plan. How will you analyze the data you collect to draw meaningful conclusions? Will you use statistical analysis, thematic coding, or another method?

Overview of Planned Methods and Expected Outcomes

In this step of how to write a concept paper for research, you'll provide an overview of the specific methods you plan to use and outline the expected outcomes or results.

Start by summarizing the methods you'll employ to collect data. This may include qualitative methods such as interviews or focus groups, quantitative methods such as surveys or experiments, or a combination of both. Briefly explain why you've chosen these methods and how they align with your research goals.

Next, outline the planned steps for implementing each method. Describe the procedures you'll follow to collect and analyze data, including any tools or instruments you'll use.

After detailing your methods, discuss the expected outcomes or results of your research. What do you hope to learn or discover through your study? How will your findings contribute to existing knowledge in your field?

Be realistic in your expectations and consider potential challenges or limitations that may affect your results. By acknowledging these factors upfront, you demonstrate a thoughtful and nuanced understanding of your research process.

Include Supporting Details

Here, you'll enrich your concept paper by incorporating supporting details that bolster your argument and provide additional context for your research.

Start by providing relevant background information or literature reviews that support your research topic. This could include citing key studies, theories, or concepts that inform your understanding of the issue.

Next, consider including any relevant data, statistics, or examples that illustrate the significance of your research topic. This could involve presenting findings from previous studies, real-world examples, or case studies that highlight the need for further investigation.

Additionally, discuss any theoretical frameworks or conceptual models that underpin your research approach. How do these frameworks help guide your study and shape your research questions?

Finally, be sure to cite your sources properly using the appropriate citation style (e.g., APA, MLA). This demonstrates academic integrity and allows readers to verify the information you've presented.

Wrap Up with a Summary

In this final step, you'll bring your concept paper to a close by summarizing the key points and reinforcing the significance of your research.

If you're uncertain how to write a conclusion for an essay , start by briefly recapping the main elements of your concept paper, including the research topic, objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes. This helps reinforce the central message of your paper and reminds readers of the key insights you've presented.

Next, reiterate the importance of your research topic and its potential impact within your field. Emphasize how your study fills a gap in existing knowledge or addresses a pressing issue, highlighting the relevance and significance of your research.

Finally, conclude with a call to action or a thought-provoking statement that encourages further reflection or discussion. This could involve suggesting avenues for future research, proposing practical implications for policymakers or practitioners, or inviting readers to consider the broader implications of your findings.

Tips for Writing a Concept Paper

Now that you've got a solid understanding of how to write a concept paper, let's explore some invaluable tips to help you navigate the writing process with finesse.

• Be Specific in Your Objectives : Clearly define your objectives with measurable outcomes. Avoid vague language and ensure each objective is actionable and achievable within the scope of your study. Specific objectives provide clarity and help guide your research effectively.
• Provide Contextual Background : Offer sufficient background information to contextualize your research topic. This includes explaining relevant theories, historical context, or existing literature related to your study. Providing context in your concept paper helps readers understand the significance of your research and its relevance within the broader field.
• Justify Your Methodological Choices : Explain why you've chosen specific research methods and justify their appropriateness for your study. Consider factors such as feasibility, ethical considerations, and alignment with your research objectives. Providing a rationale for your methodological choices adds credibility to your research approach.
• Anticipate and Address Limitations : Acknowledge potential limitations or challenges associated with your study and discuss how you plan to mitigate them. This demonstrates a thoughtful approach to your research and shows that you've considered the broader implications of your study. Being transparent about limitations also helps manage expectations and build trust with your audience.

Concept Paper Example

Now that we've explored the steps and tips for writing a concept paper let's put theory into practice. In this section, we'll provide you with a concept paper example to illustrate how these principles can be applied in a real-world scenario.

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Don't wait any longer—bring your concepts to life with our expertly crafted concept papers.

Concept Paper Topics

In this section, we'll provide you with a range of thought-provoking concept paper ideas spanning various disciplines and interests. Whether you're passionate about social issues, scientific advancements, or want to learn how to research a topic on cultural phenomena, you're sure to find inspiration here.

• The Influence of Instagram Fitness Influencers on Body Image Perception Among Adolescent Girls
• Implementing Bicycle-Sharing Programs to Reduce Carbon Emissions in Downtown Metropolitan Areas
• Analyzing the Effectiveness of Food Pantry Programs in Alleviating Food Insecurity Among Undergraduate Students at Urban Universities
• Assessing the Accuracy and Efficiency of Machine Learning Algorithms in Early Detection of Breast Cancer Using Medical Imaging Data
• Strategies for Increasing Female Representation in Computer Science and Engineering Programs at Universities
• Investigating the Impact of Workplace Mindfulness Programs on Employee Burnout Rates in High-stress Industries
• Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Services in Rural Appalachia: A Case Study
• The Ecological Impact of Microplastic Contamination on Coral Reef Ecosystems in the Caribbean
• Addressing Online Harassment and Cyberbullying Among Middle School Students Through Digital Literacy Education Programs
• The Relationship Between Proximity to Parks and Greenspaces and Mental Health Outcomes in Urban Dwellers: A Cross-sectional Study
• Virtual Reality Rehabilitation for Upper Limb Motor Recovery After Stroke: A Comparative Analysis of Traditional Therapy Methods
• Evaluating the Economic Viability and Environmental Sustainability of Indoor Vertical Farming Systems in Urban Settings
• Psychological Profiles of Adolescent Online Gamers: A Longitudinal Study on Risk Factors for Gaming Addiction
• Peer Mentoring Interventions for Improving Academic Performance and Retention Rates Among First-generation College Students in STEM Majors
• Universal Basic Income Pilot Programs: Assessing Socioeconomic Impacts and Policy Implications in Scandinavian Countries.

And there you have it - you've journeyed through the ins and outs of concept paper writing! You've learned the ropes, discovered valuable tips, explored an example, and got a bunch of topic ideas to fuel your creativity.

Now armed with the know-how, it's time to dive in and start crafting your concept paper. Remember to keep it focused, stay organized, and don't forget to let your passion shine through. With your enthusiasm and newfound skills, there's no doubt you'll create a paper that grabs attention and makes a real impact in your field.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

Research Concept Paper

What is a research concept paper.

The Concept Paper lays the foundation for the applied dissertation process, providing an introductory form of communication between the doctoral student and the doctoral committee. Essentially, the Concept Paper acts as a tentative proposal; it allows the doctoral student the opportunity to define a research focus and obtain early feedback on the research idea. A well-planned Concept Paper will capture the interest of the dissertation committee and establish a clear plan for the student’s dissertation.

When is the Research Concept Paper Written?

The Research Concept Paper is completed prior to the dissertation proposal and serves as a development tool and summary of the planned dissertation. The Concept paper is a brief document. Depending upon the requirements of the specific school or academic program, the Concept Paper may range from as few as 2-3 pages to as many as 10-20 pages. The essential point of the Concept Paper is to explain the importance of a particular research project.

The Concept Paper initiates the dissertation phase of a doctoral degree, which follows the completion of necessary coursework and training and represents a culmination of the student’s learning. The dissertation is a student’s final academic effort to synthesize course material by applying their learning to a research project. The project is expected to add new information to the field of study.  The Concept Paper acts as a summary of this project.

The Concept Paper, although highly abridged, is comprised of many of the same items found in a dissertation. The specific elements of the Concept Paper may vary depending upon the academic program and the chosen degree. Programs typically provide a grading rubric that serves as an outline for the required components, and students are encouraged to follow those rubrics closely in developing their Concept Paper.

What are the Main Elements of a Research Concept Paper?

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Title page  — provides a tentative title for the dissertation.  The title of the Concept Paper should be a stand-alone statement that can fully describe the project by summarizing the main idea of the manuscript.  The title should concisely identify the variables being investigated and the relationship among those variables (American Psychological Association , 2010).  Words should serve a useful purpose; avoid words that do not add substance or words that are misleading.  The title of the Concept Paper may become the title of the dissertation.

Statement of the Problem — provides the purpose for the research.  This section of the Concept Paper introduces the problem under investigation, addresses why the researcher wants to investigate this problem, and how the research findings may help address the problem.  Supporting documentation, including statistical data if available, should be used to emphasize the need for this research.  This section is one of the most important sections of the Concept Paper; it serves to gain the reader’s attention and support.  You care about the research, but the reader may need some convincing.  The first few sentences of the Concept Paper should intrigue the reader to pique his or her interest and encourage further reading.

As you begin to write the problem statement of your Concept Paper, consider your research.  First consider why the problem is important.  Consider how your study relates to previous work in the field, how you will link your hypotheses and objectives to theory, and how the hypotheses relate to the research design.  Finally, consider the theoretical and practical implications involved in your research project (APA, 2010).  A well-developed, concise, and clear problem statement will lay the foundation for a strong Concept Paper and the dissertation that follows. Preliminary Literature Review — provides identification of major literature that supports and validates the topic.  The literature review focuses on areas that offer support for new research and offers the student an opportunity to analyze and synthesize past research in the context of their present problem.  For the Concept Paper, the student should connect their research project to a theoretical model reported in the literature.  The most successful research projects have been based on the research of predecessors, and this section of the Concept Paper provides enough of a description of previous research to plant seeds in the mind of the reader suggesting more information is needed.  A strong Concept Paper is based on a wide-range literature review that is condensed into a summary of key points. Goal Statement — provides a broad or abstract intention, including the research goals and objectives.  This part of the Concept Paper tells the reader “who, what, and when” regarding the research goal.

Research Questions  — provides a preliminary view of the questions the student will investigate.  Questions are based on theory, past research, and need.  These questions will direct the research methodology; their inclusion in the Concept Paper links the research problem with the methodology.  For some, composing the research questions may be the most difficult part of the research project, or possibly the most difficult aspect of writing the Concept Paper.  The questions will direct everything that will be done; therefore, it is important that they are focused to the main research problem.  These research questions will specifically direct the research and the type of analyses conducted; as such, their compatibility is essential. An Abridged Methodology  — provides the student’s best idea on how to conduct the research and analyze the data. The goals identified in previous sections of the Concept Paper should relate to the research methods described in this section.  For the Concept Paper, the methodology is simplified or summarized, serving as a general outline of the methods that will be employed.

Timeline — provides a range of time for completion of the project, highlighting key elements for each stage of the project.  This element is unique to the Concept Paper and provides the student structure for managing sections of the project within a realistic time frame. References — provides references to the material cited in the literature review and elsewhere in the Concept Paper.

Concept Paper

Ai generator.

A concept paper is a brief document outlining the essential aspects of a research project, proposal, or idea. It serves as a preliminary pitch to gain approval or funding for a larger project. Often referred to as a Concept Essay Paper , this document summarizes the purpose, goals, and significance of the proposed work. Additionally, a Concept Proposal helps stakeholders understand the project’s scope and potential impact. Crafting a clear and concise Analysis Paper Outline is crucial for organizing the main points and supporting details that will be expanded upon in the full paper.

What is Concept Paper?

A concept paper is a concise summary that outlines the main ideas , objectives, and significance of a research project or proposal. It serves to present the key points of a project to gain approval, funding, or support from stakeholders.

Examples of Concept Paper

• Education Reform Proposal : A paper proposing new strategies to improve public education quality.
• Renewable Energy Initiative : A plan to develop sustainable energy sources in a local community.
• Healthcare Improvement Project : A proposal to enhance patient care in rural hospitals.
• Mental Health Awareness Campaign : A strategy to increase awareness and support for mental health issues.
• Community Policing Program : A concept to foster better relationships between law enforcement and communities.
• Literacy Development Plan : A project aimed at improving literacy rates among children and adults.
• Environmental Conservation Effort : A proposal to protect local wildlife habitats and natural resources.
• Technology Integration in Classrooms : A plan to incorporate advanced technology in teaching and learning.
• Small Business Support Network : A concept to create a network that supports local small businesses.
• Youth Sports Program Expansion : A proposal to expand sports activities and facilities for young people.
• Cultural Heritage Preservation Project : An initiative to preserve and promote local cultural heritage.
• Public Transportation Improvement : A plan to enhance public transportation systems in urban areas.
• Affordable Housing Development : A proposal to create affordable housing options for low-income families.
• Substance Abuse Prevention Program : A strategy to prevent substance abuse among teenagers.
• Water Conservation Plan : A project to promote water-saving practices in communities.
• Urban Gardening Initiative : A concept to encourage urban gardening and local food production.
• Disaster Preparedness Program : A proposal to improve community preparedness for natural disasters.
• STEM Education Enhancement : A plan to boost science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.
• Elderly Care Support System : A project aimed at improving care and services for the elderly.
• Art and Music Therapy Program : A proposal to use art and music therapy for mental health treatment.

Concept paper Examples for Students

1. renewable energy in urban areas.

Title : Promoting Renewable Energy Solutions in Urban Areas

Introduction : Urban areas are major consumers of energy, contributing significantly to environmental pollution. The need to transition to renewable energy sources in these regions is critical for sustainable development.

Problem Statement : Despite the benefits of renewable energy, many urban areas still rely heavily on fossil fuels. This dependence leads to environmental degradation and health issues among residents.

Objectives :

• To identify the barriers to renewable energy adoption in urban areas.

The study will involve a comprehensive review of existing literature on renewable energy, surveys of urban residents, and case studies of successful renewable energy projects in cities. Significance : This research aims to provide actionable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and environmental organizations

2. The Impact of Social Media on Teen Mental Health

Title : Exploring the Impact of Social Media on Teen Mental Health

Introduction : Social media has become an integral part of teenagers’ lives, influencing their communication, behavior, and perceptions. While it offers various benefits, there are growing concerns about its impact on teen mental health.

Problem Statement : Excessive use of social media is linked to increased levels of anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues among teenagers. Understanding these effects is crucial for developing effective interventions.

• To assess the extent of social media usage among teenagers.

Methodology : The research will use a mixed-methods approach, including surveys to measure social media usage and mental health indicators, and in-depth interviews with teenagers to gain qualitative insights.

Significance : The findings will help parents, educators, and mental health professionals better understand the impact of social media on teenagers and develop strategies to support healthier social media habits.

Examples Concept Paper for a Project

1. community garden project.

Title : Establishing a Community Garden for Urban Sustainability and Health

Introduction : Urban areas often lack green spaces, which are essential for the well-being of residents. Community gardens can provide not only fresh produce but also a sense of community and environmental education.

Problem Statement : Many urban neighborhoods are food deserts, with limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables. This contributes to poor nutrition and health issues among residents.

• To create a sustainable community garden that provides fresh produce to urban residents.

Methodology : The project will involve securing a suitable plot of land, recruiting volunteers, and partnering with local organizations for resources and support.

Significance : This project will enhance urban sustainability by greening the neighborhood, improving residents’ access to nutritious food, and promoting environmental stewardship.

2. Digital Literacy Program for Seniors

Title : Bridging the Digital Divide: A Digital Literacy Program for Seniors

Introduction : As technology becomes increasingly integral to daily life, many seniors find themselves isolated due to a lack of digital skills. A digital literacy program can empower seniors to stay connected and access essential services.

Problem Statement : Many seniors face challenges in using digital devices and the internet, which can lead to social isolation and difficulty accessing important services such as telehealth and online banking.

• To provide seniors with basic digital literacy skills.

Methodology : The program will offer free workshops at community centers, covering topics such as using smartphones, navigating the internet, and understanding online safety.

Significance : This project will help bridge the digital divide for seniors, enhancing their quality of life and independence. It will also promote intergenerational learning and community involvement.

Examples of Methodology in Concept paper

1. study habits and academic performance.

Title : Quantitative Analysis of the Impact of Study Habits on Academic Performance Among High School Students

Methodology : This study will utilize a survey-based approach to collect quantitative data from high school students. The survey will include questions on various study habits such as duration of study sessions, frequency of breaks, use of study aids, and study environment.

2. Social Media and Academic Performance

Title : Quantitative Study on the Impact of Social Media Usage on Academic Performance Among College Students

Methodology : A structured questionnaire will be developed to gather data on social media usage patterns and academic performance from college students. The questionnaire will ask about the average time spent on social media per day, types of social media platforms used, and academic performance indicators such as GPA.

Concept Paper Examples for Qualitative Research

1. exploring teacher experiences with remote learning.

Title : Understanding Teacher Experiences and Challenges with Remote Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction : The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a sudden shift from traditional classroom teaching to remote learning. This study aims to explore the experiences and challenges faced by teachers during this transition.

Problem Statement : While remote learning has become necessary, there is limited understanding of how teachers have adapted and what challenges they face. Insights into these experiences can inform better support and resources for educators.

• To explore teachers’ experiences with remote learning.
• To identify the challenges and barriers teachers face in remote teaching.

Methodology : This qualitative study will use semi-structured interviews with teachers from various educational levels. Thematic analysis will be conducted to identify common themes and patterns in the data.

Significance : The findings will provide valuable insights into the difficulties and successes of remote teaching, offering guidance for policymakers and educational institutions

2. Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Self-Esteem

Title : Investigating the Impact of Social Media Use on Adolescent Self-Esteem

Introduction : Social media has become a central part of adolescents’ lives. This study seeks to understand how social media use affects their self-esteem and overall mental health.

Problem Statement : While social media offers opportunities for connection, it also poses risks to adolescents’ self-esteem due to comparison and cyberbullying. Understanding these impacts is crucial for developing interventions.

• To explore adolescents’ perceptions of social media.
• To examine how social media use influences their self-esteem.

Methodology : Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews will be conducted with adolescents aged 13-18.

Significance : The study will provide insights into the complex relationship between social media and self-esteem in adolescents, helping parents, educators, and policymakers

Concept Paper Examples for Quantitative Research

1. the effect of study habits on academic performance.

Introduction : Academic performance is influenced by various factors, including students’ study habits. This research aims to quantitatively assess the relationship between different study habits and academic performance in high school students.

Problem Statement : While it is widely accepted that study habits affect academic performance, there is a need for empirical data to understand which specific habits are most beneficial.

• To quantify the relationship between study habits and academic performance.
• To identify which study habits have the strongest correlation with high academic achievement.

Significance : The findings will offer evidence-based insights for educators and students, helping to develop effective strategies to enhance academic performance through improved study habits.

2. The Impact of Social Media on Academic Performance

Introduction : Social media usage is pervasive among college students, raising concerns about its potential impact on academic performance. This study aims to quantify the relationship between the time spent on social media and academic outcomes.

Problem Statement : There is a need for empirical data to understand how social media usage affects academic performance, given the mixed findings in existing literature.

• To measure the amount of time college students spend on social media.
• To analyze the correlation between social media usage and GPA.

Significance : The results will provide concrete data on the impact of social media usage on academic performance, informing policies and interventions aimed at promoting healthier social media habits among students.

How to write a Concept Paper

Step 1: identify the purpose.

Purpose : Determine why you are writing the concept paper. Is it for a research proposal, a grant application, or a new project initiative? Clearly defining the purpose will help focus your writing.

Step 2: Conduct Preliminary Research

Research : Gather background information on your topic. This includes reviewing existing literature, identifying gaps in the current knowledge, and understanding the needs of your audience or stakeholders.

Step 3: Define the Problem

Problem Statement : Clearly articulate the problem or issue that your project aims to address. Explain the significance of the problem and why it needs to be solved.

Step 4: Outline the Objectives

Objectives : List the specific goals you intend to achieve with your project. Objectives should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).

Step 5: Describe the Methodology

Methodology : Detail the methods and approaches you will use to achieve your objectives. This may include research design, data collection techniques, and analysis methods.

Step 6: Highlight the Benefits

Benefits : Explain the expected outcomes and benefits of your project. Describe how your project will contribute to the field, address the problem, and benefit stakeholders.

Step 7: Prepare a Budget Estimate

Budget : Provide an estimated budget for your project. This should include all necessary expenses such as materials, personnel, travel, and other resources. Justify the costs and explain how funds will be used efficiently.

Step 8: Draft the Concept Paper

Draft : Begin writing your concept paper using the information you have gathered. Ensure that your paper includes the following sections:

• Title : A concise and descriptive title for your project.
• Introduction : A brief overview of the problem and the purpose of the project.
• Problem Statement : A detailed explanation of the issue being addressed.
• Objectives : A list of the goals and expected outcomes.
• Methodology : An outline of the methods and approaches.
• Benefits : The anticipated benefits and impact of the project.
• Budget : An estimated budget with a justification of costs.
• Conclusion : A summary of the key points and a call to action or next steps.

Step 9: Review and Revise

Review : Carefully review your draft for clarity, coherence, and completeness. Ensure that all sections are well-organized and that your arguments are logical and persuasive. Check for grammar and spelling errors.

Step 10: Seek Feedback

Feedback : Share your concept paper with colleagues, mentors, or stakeholders for feedback. Incorporate their suggestions and make necessary revisions.

Step 11: Finalize the Concept Paper

Finalize : Prepare the final version of your concept paper. Ensure that it is polished and professional, and that all necessary information is included.

Step 12: Submit or Present

Submit : Submit your concept paper to the appropriate audience or funding agency. Follow any specific guidelines or requirements provided.

Purpose of a Concept Paper

Clarify Ideas : Writing a concept paper helps to clarify and refine the ideas and objectives of a project. It forces the author to think through the details and communicate the concept in a clear and coherent manner.

Secure Funding : Many funding agencies, grant-giving organizations, and sponsors require a concept paper as a preliminary step before submitting a full proposal. The concept paper outlines the need for funding, the project’s significance, and how the funds will be used.

Engage Stakeholders : A concept paper is used to engage and inform stakeholders, including potential partners, collaborators, and beneficiaries. It helps in building interest and support for the project.

Receive Feedback : By presenting a concept paper to peers, mentors, or funding bodies, the author can receive valuable feedback. This feedback can be used to improve and refine the project proposal before submitting a full application.

Demonstrate Feasibility : A well-crafted concept paper demonstrates the feasibility of the project. It shows that the author has a clear plan and understands the necessary steps to achieve the project’s goals.

Outline Project Scope : The concept paper outlines the scope and scale of the project. This includes defining the problem, stating the objectives, describing the methodology, and estimating the budget. It provides a snapshot of what the project entails.

Establish Credibility : Presenting a detailed and well-researched Self Concept paper helps establish the credibility of the author or organization. It shows that they have thought through the project thoroughly and are capable of executing it successfully.

Importance of a Concept Paper

Foundation for Proposals : A concept paper lays the groundwork for a more detailed proposal. It provides a preliminary outline of the project, which can be expanded into a comprehensive plan.

Securing Initial Approval and Funding : Many funding agencies, grant providers, and institutional review boards require a concept paper as the first step in the application process.

Clarification of Ideas : Clarification of Ideas Writing a concept paper helps clarify and refine the project ideas. It forces the author to organize their thoughts, define objectives, and articulate the significance of the project.

Engagement and Persuasion of Stakeholders : A concept paper is a tool for engaging stakeholders such as potential collaborators, partners, and beneficiaries.

Guidance for Project Development : The concept paper provides a clear outline of the project’s goals, methods, and expected outcomes.

Demonstration of Feasibility and Planning : A concept paper demonstrates that the author has thoroughly planned and considered the project’s feasibility.

Establishing Credibility : A detailed and well-researched concept paper helps establish the author’s or organization’s credibility.

Tips for writing a Concept Paper

• Understand Your Audience
• Start with a Strong Title
• Provide a Compelling Introduction
• Clearly Define the Problem
• Outline Specific Objectives
• Describe Your Methodology
• Highlight the Benefits and Impact

Why is a concept paper important?

It clarifies ideas, engages stakeholders, secures initial funding, and serves as a foundation for developing detailed project proposals.

What should be included in a concept paper?

Include the title, introduction, problem statement, objectives, methodology, benefits, budget, and conclusion to provide a comprehensive project overview.

How long is a typical concept paper?

Concept papers are usually 2-5 pages long, providing a concise yet thorough overview of the proposed project.

Who is the audience for a concept paper?

The audience includes funding agencies, stakeholders, institutional review boards, and potential project partners or collaborators.

What is the difference between a concept paper and a proposal?

A concept paper is a brief, preliminary outline, while a proposal is a detailed plan that expands on the concept paper’s ideas.

Can a concept paper include preliminary research?

Yes, preliminary research supports the problem statement and demonstrates the project’s relevance and feasibility.

What is the role of the budget in a concept paper?

The budget outlines estimated costs, justifies expenses, and shows efficient resource allocation, crucial for securing funding.

How can feedback improve a concept paper?

Should a concept paper include references.

Including references supports the problem statement and methodology, adding credibility and context to the proposed project.

What is the next step after writing a concept paper?

Submit it to the appropriate audience, seek feedback, and use it as a foundation to develop a detailed project proposal.

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• Professional

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Title: using the concept hierarchy for household action recognition.

Abstract: We propose a method to systematically represent both the static and the dynamic components of environments, i.e. objects and agents, as well as the changes that are happening in the environment, i.e. the actions and skills performed by agents. Our approach, the Concept Hierarchy, provides the necessary information for autonomous systems to represent environment states, perform action modeling and recognition, and plan the execution of tasks. Additionally, the hierarchical structure supports generalization and knowledge transfer to environments. We rigorously define tasks, actions, skills, and affordances that enable human-understandable action and skill recognition.

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Measuring and Valuing Australia's Ecosystems

First look at how Australia's ecosystems can be measured and valued.

Executive summary

In 2025, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) will release the first comprehensive set of National Ecosystem Accounts for Australia. The release is part of an ongoing ecosystem accounts program between the ABS and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). The accounts will cover the entire Australian territory, encompassing terrestrial, freshwater, and marine realms. The inaugural release, developed from existing datasets, will showcase the potential of extensive ecosystem accounts to deliver environmental information for decision-makers, and will provide a platform for feedback on utility and future enhancements.   

Central to the ongoing program of ecosystem accounts are user needs and a comprehensive statistical framework. The comprehensive framework enables the organisation of data about habitats and landscapes, measuring ecosystem services, and linking this information to economic and other human activities. Over time, the program will provide a time series of information on environmental change and how this impacts our economy. Extensions to ecosystem accounts will also be developed exploring thematic areas such as biodiversity and climate change, providing targeted insights for specific policy areas. The first release will be followed by a consultation process to ensure the accounts are fit-for-purpose.  

This paper discusses the benefits and uses of ecosystem accounts, and the ongoing ecosystem accounting program development process. It includes an example of a National Ecosystem Account for a single ecosystem, rivers, focused on the ecosystem service of freshwater provisioning (see Appendix 4). These example accounts demonstrate the format of, and information contained within, ecosystem accounts.    

Development of the National Ecosystem Accounts is a significant step in understanding the health and wealth of our nation's natural capital. Valuing the economic contribution of ecosystems allows for a deeper understanding of how nature supports economies and societies, which can lead to more informed and sustainable decision-making.

The Australian territory covers a huge geographical area, with extensive natural assets. Australia is one of the largest islands in the world with a total land area of 7.7 million km \(^2\) , 60,000 km of coastline, 4.3 million km of rivers, and oceans that cover 10 million km \(^2\) . In 2023, an estimated $2.4 trillion came from our agricultural, mineral and other service industries. Added to that, in 2023 our population was nearly 27 million people. Measuring the extent and value of our natural environment and ecosystems is critical to understanding the relationship between these assets, the economy, and society. Enduring National Ecosystem Accounts will provide an ecologically meaningful measure of Australia’s land, freshwater and marine environment.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), in partnership with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), is developing an ongoing program of National Ecosystem Accounts to produce a series of annual releases of these accounts. The ABS and DCCEEW have partnered with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to develop the first National Ecosystem Accounts, which are due to be published in early 2025. The accounts are being developed in accordance with the United Nations’ System of Environmental-Economic Accounting Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA) international framework. Over time they will provide a continuing measure of Australia’s changing ecosystems. The accounts will be improved and expanded to better meet a range of needs as the ecosystem accounting program develops.  

This information paper outlines the background and purpose of the accounts, and the intended approach to developing the ongoing accounting program. While this report does not intend to cover all methodological aspects of account compilation, it includes appendices that provide insight into key aspects of account compilation for monetary, biodiversity and carbon accounts, and on integrating ecosystem accounts into the System of National Accounts (SNA). Feedback on the full set of accounts and compilation methodology will be sought after their publication in 2025.

What are ecosystem accounts?

Ecosystems are areas containing a dynamic complex of plant, animal and microorganism communities, and their non-living environment, interacting as a functional unit. The primary units for ecosystem accounting are labelled ecosystem assets. Ecosystem accounts are structured to summarise information about these assets, their changing capacity to operate as a functional unit, and their benefits to humanity.  

Ecosystem accounts will help us to understand Australia’s environment and how it changes over time by describing ecosystems and how they contribute to the economy and society in a standardised way. Ecosystem accounts consist of five main components:  

• stocks of ecosystem assets  
• the condition or ‘health’ of the assets  
• the flows of goods and services from the assets  
• the value of the benefits from the goods and services  
• the value of ecosystem assets.   

A key aspect of ecosystem accounting is that it allows the contributions of ecosystems to the economy and society to be expressed in monetary terms. Some of the benefits from this are:  

• An ability to compare ecosystem services to other goods and services and their contribution to society’s wellbeing.   
• The integration of habitats and landscapes data with ecosystem services.   
• The linking of ecosystem services with information on economic and other human activity.   

Figure 1 shows the general ecosystem accounting framework that describes the extent and condition of ecosystem assets and the flow of ecosystem services from these assets to the economy and society (United Nations et al. 2021).

Figure 1. General ecosystem accounting framework

A diagram with circles arranged in an overlapping format, illustrating the relationship between the environment, ecosystem assets, society and the economy within the context of ecosystem services. The largest circle is Environment which encompasses the two major circles, Ecosystem assets and Society. The Ecosystem assets circle contains three elements; Extent and Condition tables, and maps of Characteristics. The Society circle encompasses the Economy circle. Extent, Condition, and Characteristics are pointing towards a circle titled Final ecosystem services, which overlaps Ecosystem assets, Economy and Society. An arrow flows from Final ecosystem services to a circle titled Benefits which sits inside Society, and overlaps the Economy circle. The diagram emphasises that Final ecosystem services connect ecosystem assets  with societal and economic benefits.

The National Ecosystem Accounts  are being designed in accordance with the SEEA EA framework.

The SEEA EA framework

The United Nations' System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) is the conceptual framework adopted by the ABS and the international statistical community for environmental-economic accounts. The SEEA was first recognised by the United Nations Statistical Commission as an international standard in 2012 and endorsed for the purposes of ecosystem accounting in 2021. The structures, concepts and classifications used in the SEEA follow those used in the System of National Accounts (SNA), meaning that accounts produced under the SEEA combine comparative analysis of the contribution of the environment to the economy, the impact of the economy on the environment, and the efficiency of the use of environmental resources within the economy. There are two frameworks associated with the SEEA: the Central Framework (SEEA CF) and Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA). While the SEEA CF covers environmental assets, physical flows and environmental related transactions and activities, the SEEA EA adds a spatial and ecosystem perspective to the environmental-economic accounts.

There are five key elements to ecosystem accounts, which are interlinked (Figure 2, from United Nations et al. 2021):

Ecosystem extent accounts

Ecosystem extent accounts organise data on the extent or area of different ecosystem types. Extent accounts data can support the derivation of indicators relating to composition and change in ecosystem types across a region. They provide a common basis for discussion among stakeholders on different ecosystem types within a country, and the thresholds for measuring conversion from one ecosystem type to another. Compilation of these accounts is also relevant in determining the appropriate set of ecosystem types that will underpin the structure of other accounts.  

Ecosystem condition accounts

A central feature of ecosystem accounting is its organisation of biophysical information on the condition of different ecosystem types. The ecosystem condition account organises the relevant data on selected ecosystem characteristics and the distance from a reference condition to provide insight into the ecological integrity of ecosystems. It may also organise data relevant to measuring the capacity of an ecosystem to supply different ecosystem services.  

Ecosystem services flow accounts – physical terms

The supply of final ecosystem services by ecosystems and the use of those services by economic units (including households, enterprises, and government) constitute one of the central features of ecosystem accounting. The supply and use tables record the flows of final ecosystem services supplied by ecosystems and used by economic units during an accounting period, enabling the recording of intermediate service flows between ecosystems.  

Ecosystem services flow accounts – monetary terms

Commonly, estimates of ecosystem services in monetary terms are based on estimating prices or values for individual ecosystem services and multiplying by the physical quantities recorded in the ecosystem services flow account in physical terms. Monetary valuation of ecosystem services is measured in a context that is coherent with standard measures of products and assets as recorded in the national accounts, which is described in Appendix 2. It is important to note that not all ecosystem services will have a monetary value.   

Ecosystem asset account – monetary terms

The series of ecosystem accounts is completed with the monetary ecosystem asset account. This account records a monetary value of ecosystem assets in terms of the net present value of the ecosystem services supplied by the asset. The estimates provide a measure of the exchange value related to the scope of ecosystem services recorded in the ecosystem services flow account and cannot be interpreted as reflecting a complete or universal measure of the value of nature.   

Figure 2. Diagram of the relationships between ecosystem accounts in the SEEA framework

A diagram illustrating an ecosystem accounting system which are divided into Stock accounts (and change in stocks) as a section on the left and Flow accounts as a section on the right. Accounts are shown within these sections as blue circles for physical accounts and yellow circles for monetary accounts. Ecosystem extent and Ecosystem condition are blue circles in the left section representing physical stock accounts and are connected by a double-sided arrow. Together these feed into  a blue circle in the right section labelled Ecosystem services flow, representing a physical flow account. This is connected with a double-sided arrow to a yellow circle on the right section directly below, also called Ecosystem services flow, representing the associated monetary flow account. An arrow connects the Ecosystem services monetary flow account to a yellow circle in the left section representing the Monetary ecosystem asset stock account. The diagram highlights the relationship between ecosystem stocks (extent and condition) and flows (services), emphasising both physical and monetary aspects.

Ecosystem account uses

Ecosystem accounts can help us understand the extent and condition of our ecosystems, and their contribution to our economic and social wellbeing. They aim to address the following questions:  

• What ecosystem assets do we have and where are they located?  
• What condition are our ecosystem assets in?  
• What ecosystem services do our ecosystem assets provide?  
• What benefits do our ecosystem assets provide, including the value of these benefits?  

The potential uses of ecosystem accounting are diverse, and may include:  

• informing the community about the extent and quality of their environment  
• environmental policy-making – helping to understand which policies create the greatest public benefit  
• natural resource management – helping to understand the optimal balance between productivity and environmental outcomes  
• planning, development and conservation activities – helping to understand the best location for an activity or development  
• providing measurement frameworks for private sector investment – helping to understand (and report) both private and public benefits of an investment.  

How an account can be used is intrinsically linked to how it is developed. Development decisions include, for example: what spatial scale to cover; what ecosystems and ecosystem services to include; and what metrics to use to measure ecosystem condition. However, the underlying purpose is to facilitate the communication and analysis of change in complex systems, including where there is a relationship between the environment and the economy.   

Ecosystem accounts can provide information to help farmers, land-use planners, policymakers, and agricultural investors make decisions on how to balance environmental outcomes with the need for food production. For example, they may assess the extent and quality of remaining habitat for threatened species, or the ecosystem services related to climate regulation (e.g. carbon retention) and water supply. They provide context for private landholders, natural resource managers, Landcare groups, communities and investors to better understand how retaining or restoring biodiversity can help support their goals and, when necessary, make trade-offs between competing goals.  

Business activities often rely on supply chains embedded in ecosystems and can have wide-ranging impacts on natural capital, such as environmental degradation, but they can also have positive impacts. Accounting for natural and social capital provides a better understanding of what the business impacts on nature and society are, what the business risks and opportunities are (e.g. lower cost and improved supply chain resilience) and for creating more economic value through demonstrating corporate social responsibility and good Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting .

Relevance to current Australian policies and environmental indicators

In 2018, the federal and state and territory environment ministers agreed on a A Common National Approach: Strategy and Action Plan for environmental-economic accounting within Australia (Commonwealth of Australia 2018). This strategy was developed as a collaboration between the Australian Department of the Environment and Energy, its state and territory counterparts, and the ABS. The common national approach to the implementation of the SEEA was devised to “provide coherent, comprehensive and integrated accounts to support decision-making by governments, business and the community.” (Commonwealth of Australia 2018).  

In December 2022, the Australian Government released the Nature Positive Plan (NPP) for environmental law reform in response to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act Independent Review. Reforms include developing a set of National Environmental Standards , establishing an independent national Environment Protection Australia (EPA) agency and a new division, Environment Information Australia (EIA), within DCCEEW, to improve the availability and accessibility of high-quality information about the environment.    

The Australian Government’s draft legislation, Nature Positive (Environment Information Australia) Bill 2024, includes the establishment of the EIA and the head of the EIA having responsibility for maintaining environmental-economic accounts. Environmental-economic accounts, integrated with socio-economic data, allow decision-makers to determine the best use of environmental assets to optimise social, economic and environmental outcomes.   

The Australian government has engaged in a range of international agreements that commit to protecting and restoring the natural environment for future generations. Addressing environmental decline requires international cooperation and these National Ecosystem Accounts will inform reporting on a range of priority areas, such as:  

• The Threatened Species Action Plan   
• Commitment by Australia’s environment ministers to protect 30% of Australia’s landmass and marine areas by 2030  
• Nature Repair Market  
• Sustainable Ocean Plan  
• Australia’s participation in the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy  
• Measuring what matters   
• Sustainable Finance Roadmap | Treasury.gov.au    
• Updating Australia’s Strategy for Nature 2019–2030 - Climate (dcceew.gov.au)  
• State of the Environment Reporting  
• Global Biodiversity Framework.  

The first release of the National Ecosystem Accounts

The first set of the National Ecosystem Accounts will be published in early 2025. The first release will incorporate various input datasets, including a number prepared by CSIRO. These datasets will provide information on ecosystem extent, some condition measures, agricultural water supply, the provision of wild marine fish and some biodiversity estimates. Additional data from within the ABS and other external providers will also be incorporated into the accounts. Full details of the data sources and compilation methods will be available with the first release publication.  

The accounts will include extent accounts of all ecosystem functional groups relevant to ecosystems in Australia, in terrestrial, freshwater and marine realms. They will also include a range of condition metrics and selected ecosystem service accounts, including agricultural biomass provisioning services, wild fish provisioning services, coastal protection services, water supply services, and carbon sequestration and retention services. In addition, there will be a biodiversity thematic account included; for more information on this account see Appendix 3.2.   

Following the release of these accounts there will be a consultation process to assist with developing the ongoing program of National Ecosystem Accounts.  

Continuous improvement post first release

Continuous improvement is a fundamental component of developing an enduring set of National Ecosystem Accounts. The first release of National Ecosystem Accounts is just the starting point for accounts that will improve over time. Known areas for improvement in subsequent releases include (see Appendix 1 for more detail):  

• Targeted and ongoing engagement with end users to better understand how decisions are made, the information they need, and the role accounts could play in supporting these decisions.
• Improvements in the measures of ecosystem extent and condition to see what is driving change. This includes identifying which changes are the result of natural processes and which are caused by human activity.  
• Incorporating perspectives and sources of knowledge from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is a critical area for future improvement.  
• A framework to enable the inclusion of sub-national and regional data into the national accounts.
• New methods and data sources to fill data gaps and quantify the ecosystem services provided by the environment, so that impacts on the economy can be fully considered in decision-making.

Conclusion and further information

The development of National Ecosystem Accounts is a significant step in understanding the health and wealth of our nation's natural capital. Valuing the economic contribution of ecosystems allows for a deeper understanding of how nature supports economies and societies, which can lead to more informed and sustainable decision-making.    

The process of developing an enduring set of ecosystem accounts to inform national decision-making is a huge undertaking. The appendices that follow provide some of the technical and methodological detail that form part of the process. An example of an ecosystem account for rivers has also been included to illustrate the format and information in the National Ecosystem Accounts.

You can provide feedback on this information paper to the ABS by emailing [email protected].

Appendix 1. Developing an ongoing ecosystem accounting program

The National Ecosystem Accounts will build on other ecosystem accounting work completed both within Australia and internationally in recent years including:    

• National Ocean Account, Experimental Estimates, November 2022 | Australian Bureau of Statistics   
• Mitchell Catchment accounts  
• Experimental Environmental-Economic Accounts for the Great Barrier Reef, 2017 | Australian Bureau of Statistics     
• Regional Ecosystem Accounting Pilot for Murray-Darling Basin  
• Gunbower-Koondrook-Perricoota accounts  
• Ecosystem Asset Accounts for Rivers in South Africa .  

The first release of the accounts will showcase the potential use of extensive ecosystem accounts and provide a platform for future enhancement feedback to address policy needs, inform environmental and economic planning, and extend usability.   

The ABS and DCCEEW are partnering to develop a long-term Continuous Improvement Plan for the National Ecosystem Accounts. This appendix outlines areas that will be a focus beyond the first publication. Additional improvements will be considered based on feedback from the first release.

1.1 Identification of purpose

It is important that the accounts can be used to inform decisions. Therefore, a priority for developing the ongoing program of work is a thorough investigation of user needs to determine priority accounts and metrics that will be fit-for-purpose. Prioritisation is critical given the large number of ecosystem services across all realms. Environmental-economic accounts can serve many purposes and a broad set of potential uses for these accounts may emerge over time.  

To uncover this potential, user consultation will need to be a fundamental and ongoing part of future development. Clearly ascertaining user needs will then need to be balanced with practical implementation (e.g. data sources and methods).

1.2 Selection of condition metrics

The selection of appropriate metrics, in particular to measure the condition of Australia’s ecosystems, is complex and depends on the aims and uses of the accounts. No single indicator can fully represent ecosystem quality across the range of ecosystems.   

The ecosystem condition accounts are useful for providing insights into the characteristics and quality of ecosystems and how they change over time. Ecosystem condition is the quality of an ecosystem measured in terms of its abiotic and biotic characteristics (United Nations et al. 2021) .

 “Ecosystem condition accounts record data on the state and functioning of (ecosystem assets) ... using a combination of relevant variables and indicators. The selected variables and indicators reflect changes over time in the key characteristics of each (ecosystem asset).”

A three-stage approach is used in the SEEA EA for the compilation of ecosystem condition accounts. Outputs at each stage are relevant for policy and decision-making.   

• Stage 1, key characteristics are selected and data on relevant variables are collated;
• Stage 2, a general reference condition is determined and for each variable a corresponding reference level is established that allows a condition indicator to be derived;
• Stage 3, condition indicators are normalised to support aggregation and the derivation of ecosystem condition indexes ( Accounting for Ecosystem Condition ).  

The SEEA EA also includes the Ecosystem Condition Typology (ECT), which is a hierarchical typology for organising data on ecosystem condition characteristics. It is designed to incorporate ecosystem condition measures that cover ecosystem structure, function and composition. Table 1 shows the SEEA EA ECT (United Nations et al. 2021, p. 90).

While a number of condition metrics will be included in the first release, future releases aim to extend the range of variables included to meet a wider range of uses. It is important, for example, that the metrics used align with jurisdictional approaches to measuring ecosystem condition across various Nature Positive initiatives. Similarly, Australia also needs to respond to international information requests related to the Global Biodiversity Framework and the Sustainability Development Goals. Thus, further work will be undertaken to refine and expand on the condition metrics used on an ongoing basis. Criteria to select condition variables will consider the relevance of the metric to the ecosystem it is measuring, the relevance of the metric for decision-making and the availability of data for ongoing reporting.

1.3 Selection of ecosystem services

Ecosystem services are the contributions of ecosystems to the benefits used in economic and other human activity (United Nations et al. 2021, para. 6.9). Examples of ecosystem services include:  

• provisioning services, such as water provisioning  
• regulation and maintenance services, such as global climate regulation services through the retention and sequestration of carbon in ecosystems  
• cultural services, such as recreation-related services.  

Once identified these ecosystem services can be valued, which also provides a value to the underlying ecosystem asset. Further information on the approaches to valuation of ecosystem services is provided in Appendix 2 - Valuing the economic contributions of ecosystems.  

While there is an extensive list of ecosystem services that are provided by the environment, it is unrealistic to produce accounts that cover all these services. Instead, the accounts will focus on services that have particular relevance to policy and decision-makers. The selection of ecosystem services for inclusion in the first release will include agricultural biomass provisioning, water provisioning, coastal protection, wild fish provisioning and carbon sequestration and retention . The intention is to expand this list of ecosystem services in response to future needs.

1.4 Selection of datasets

Ecosystem accounting presents challenges in collating and harmonising environmental and economic data from a range of sources. Input data could be quantitative, qualitative, modelled, surveyed, time series, or spatial, and may vary in format, processing and scale. A framework to guide selection and harmonisation for the production of accounts is essential. It also provides guidance on when to acknowledge that the available data is not adequate, and therefore data gaps are identified. A framework allows us to:  

• identify the data or other forms of information needed for accounting purposes  
• encourage the development of common metadata standards  
• provide greater transparency in verifying data treatments and assumptions used in compiling accounts.  

The data selection framework will incorporate and expand on the ABS’s data quality framework ( The ABS Data Quality Framework ) and align with DCCEEW’s draft National Data Standards ( National Environmental Standards - DCCEEW ). These standards include the following criteria:  

• Fit-for-purpose: data and information meet the specific needs of the decision being made.  
• Ethical: data and information are demonstrably compliant with relevant legislation protecting sensitive data and information, were obtained and are managed under appropriate ethics approvals, and were obtained and are managed in a transparent and inclusive manner for stakeholders.  
• Reliable: data and information have a demonstrably robust scientific foundation and/or were collected under a recognised and enduring survey protocol or traditional knowledge system.  
• Reusable: data and information have adequate metadata (on the data’s structure, lineage, sources, objectives and intended use) to ensure it is meaningful for decision-making.  
• Accessible: data and information are made available under the least restrictive conditions possible (preferably Creative-Commons-No-Rights-Reserved).  
• Discoverable: data and information are made available on an enduring, searchable and interoperable platform so they can be readily found when needed for a decision.  

Assessing the quality and appropriateness of data for inclusion in the accounts depends on a number of factors. Having a framework to guide input data selection will enhance the ability of the ABS to compile high quality accounts.  

The data selected for the initial release of the accounts is focused on data in a ready-to-use form, with the most important consideration being spatial coverage of the entire extent of the territory. As the accounts develop, there will be a need to look further than immediately usable data sources, so that inputs can be considered best-available and compatible with higher resolution datasets that exist for the various states and territories and other land management bodies around Australia. The development of the ongoing accounts program will include a systematic review of data sources around Australia and the construction of an objective framework, to assess datasets for suitability for the accounts, in order to provide a transparent approach to data selection.   

1.5 Integrating diverse datasets

Acknowledging that a systematic review of data sources around Australia will produce many datasets that may meet many of the data quality criteria, but do not have the full spatial coverage needed - methods to modify and improve the usability of these datasets will greatly increase the ability to incorporate high quality data in the accounts. To incorporate best- possible data into the accounts, and ensure coherence with state environmental reporting, it will be important to integrate sub-national data into the national scale accounts. C onsiderations in developing these methods include:   

• the importance of good quality partial-coverage data that can be extended  
• the importance of acknowledging knowledge gaps where appropriate  
• the importance of on-ground measurements, observations and monitoring  
• the importance of remote-sensing datasets  
• the possibility of establishing national datasets by pursuing equivalence or compatibility between sub-national data  
• the possibility of a multiscale approach in accounts (e.g. using best-quality data where available, even without national coverage, and using coarser data where the high-resolution product is not available).  

Continuous improvement is an inherent element of an ongoing program of ecosystem accounts. The above information provides some detail around where improvements are needed - the assessment of user needs and the refinement of data selection and development will be a continuous process that is part of the account development.  

1.6 Consideration of account development concepts

The development of any statistical product relies on the use of a range of statistical concepts, standards and frameworks. A discussion of these frameworks and classifications as they relate to ecosystem accounts is provided below. The integration of standards (which define the concepts we are working on), classifications (which categorise the observations we are collecting) and methods (how we manipulate data to fit into the classifications and thus into the standard) defines the process of account compilation.  

1.6.1 Standards and classifications overview

Standard classifications and definitions of statistical units and items underlie the compilation and presentation of statistics produced by national statistical offices, such as the ABS. The use of such standards ensure that statistics are harmonised across national and international boundaries, which ensures comparability and aggregation from various collections, for example, for national accounts purposes.  

Where possible established Australian and international standards should be used. Comprehensibility is also a key consideration - this is the ability to be understood, by users and by respondents. It involves clarity of definitions, realism in the sense of modelling the real world, and providing a logical and coherent structure for collecting and organising information.  

The widespread use of standards also provides an integrated statistical picture of Australian society and environment. They facilitate the process of drawing together all the data about a particular topic, variable or population, from the full range of statistical sources, in a meaningful and useful way.  

Classifications are an important part of any standard. They are used to collect and organise information into categories with other similar pieces of information. Classifications should be exhaustive and mutually exclusive. The application of classifications can be at any level of data and at any point in the account compilation process. For example, classifications that define the inputs into the accounts, for instance the association of ecosystem types to basic statistical unit, can be different to what is reported at the account level. While it is preferable that all classifications align from collection to indicators, this is rare as most accounts are built from a wide range of data collected for different purposes.

1.6.2 Ecosystem account classifications

Ecosystem classifications must describe the components of ecosystems that are currently available to society and how these components have changed over time.   

Recognised standards for SEEA ecosystem types and ecosystem services are:  

• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Ecosystem Typology (GET) for ecosystem types  
• Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES) for ecosystem services (a shorter list is in the SEEA EA).  

Ecosystem extent (IUCN GET)

The IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology ( IUCN GET ) is the international statistical standard for classifying ecosystems and is recommended for use in SEEA ecosystem accounting. It is a comprehensive framework for Earth’s ecosystems that integrates their functional and compositional features.    

The National Ecosystem Accounts first release will use the IUCN GET levels 1 to 3 as its output ecosystem classification – 1. Realms, 2. Biomes and 3. Functional Groups. These are defined as ( Typology - Global Ecosystem Typology (global-ecosystems.org) :

One of five major components of the biosphere that differ fundamentally in ecosystem organisation and function: terrestrial, freshwater, marine, subterranean, atmospheric, and combinations of these (transitional realms). Because variation in nature is continuous, we also include transitional realms, where the realms meet and have their own unique organisation and function.

A component of a realm united by broad features of ecosystem structure and one or a few common major ecological drivers that regulate major ecological functions, derived from the top-down by subdivision of realms (level 1).

Ecosystem Functional Group

A group of related ecosystems within a biome that share common ecological drivers, which in turn promote similar biotic traits that characterise the group. Derived from the top-down by subdivision of biomes.

Ecosystem assets will be reported by level 3 functional group, where possible. The use of the IUCN GET does not preclude the use of different classifications systems if they are hierarchically compatible, or already in use and associated with useful data.  

The accounts will adopt a more detailed ecosystem classification typology for Australia for subsequent releases when a national classification has been developed.

Ecosystem services (CICES)

Standardisation in the way ecosystem services are described is necessary for comparisons over time and between countries. It is especially important where the link to economic accounting is to be made. The CICES framework has been developed in consultation with the United Nations Statistical Division and the European Environment Agency in support of the SEEA Principles. The aim of CICES is to provide clarity on how ecosystem services are measured and analysed. CICES recognises three main categories of ecosystem outputs: provisioning, regulating and cultural services. Supporting, or indirect, ecosystem services are not explicitly expressed and are instead treated as part of the underlying structures, process and functions that characterise ecosystems. Final ecosystem services are described using a five-level hierarchical structure, with each level being progressively more detailed and specific.  

Appendix 2. Valuing the economic contribution of ecosystems

Ecosystems provide a range of benefits that may not be readily captured in market transactions, nor will their contribution always be recognised in economic activities or decision-making processes. Governments, businesses and communities will not be able to make informed decisions on resource use and allocation, including those arising from the natural world, if the benefits of ecosystems are not clearly defined.

In ecosystem accounting, monetary valuation enables comparisons of ecosystem services and assets that are consistent with standard measures of services and assets as recorded in the national accounts. The SEEA EA framework has a tiered approach to valuation that prefers the use of exchange values where possible – consistent with the international approach on national accounts (United Nations et al. 2021).

Valuation of ecosystem and cultural services remains a work in progress as the SEEA EA guidance on monetisation and valuation continues to evolve. The first iteration of the National Ecosystem Accounts will focus on valuing ecosystem services. Future iterations of the accounts will consider valuation of the underlying ecosystem assets.

2.1 A SEEA EA perspective on valuation

The SNA does not attempt to determine the utility of the flows and stocks that are within its scope. Rather, it measures the current exchange values of the entries in the accounts in monetary terms; that is, the values at which goods, services, labour or assets are exchanged or could be exchanged for cash. The exchange values, which focus on transactions between owners of economic units, are captured within the SNA production boundary.

The SEEA EA extends the production boundary of the SNA by recognising that natural capital and ecosystem services contribute to economic activity and community wellbeing. The monetary accounts that accompany the Physical Supply and Use Tables (PSUT) of ecosystem assets and their services require consistency with SNA valuation principles to enable the integration and comparison of these accounts with the SNA. 

Ecosystem accounting is not about putting a value on everything in nature. Consistent with the SNA principles, it excludes the welfare values arising from ecosystem contributions and the intrinsic values of ecosystem assets (Figure 3, from Schenau et al. 2022).

Figure 3. Overview of values provided by ecosystem

A diagram with four rectangles arranged in an embedded sequence. The smallest inner rectangle is Exchange values captured in the SNA production boundary. The second rectangle which is larger, encompasses the first rectangle is Exchange values captured in the SEEA EA extended production boundary. The third rectangle which is larger again, encompasses the previous two rectangles is Welfare values capturing consumer surplus. The fourth and largest rectangle encompasses all previous rectangles is Intrinsic values (not captured in monetary values). The diagram outlines different economic valuation methods that can be used in valuing ecosystem contributions, distinguishing between those captured within System of National Accounts (SNA) and System of Environmental-Economic Accounting Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA) boundaries, welfare values, and intrinsic.

The SEEA EA focuses on recording the supply and use of ecosystem services rather than the wellbeing or outcomes that eventuate (United Nations et al. 2021, para. 2.72). The distinction between economic value and exchange value is that economic value refers to the worth derived from the consumption of a product or service, whereas exchange value refers to the monetary price paid in acquiring or exchanging a product or service.    

In the example of climate regulation services, valuation of the ecosystem services should reflect the service – carbon sequestration and carbon retention – not the societal flow-on benefits. The exchange value of carbon retention and carbon sequestration services may be reflected in carbon prices, the marginal cost of abatement, or expenditure in maintaining the carbon stock from re-entering the atmosphere.   

The SEEA EA guidelines suggest using the social cost of carbon to reflect avoided damages to human health and the impact on economic activity and assets such as infrastructure and industries due to climate change. Whilst this is useful in informing climate policy more broadly, it may not be conceptually equivalent to valuing the ecosystem service itself in the context of the SEEA EA.

2.2 Estimating the value of ecosystem services

For most ecosystem services there are no observed transactions, meaning that exchange values must often be estimated. The lack of observable markets in nature is both historical and institutional. Governments worldwide often regulate the use, access to and trade of endangered fauna and flora to ensure their continued existence. The lack of ownership of endangered fauna and flora, and ecosystems more broadly, also limits transactions and market activity. For example, whilst no one owns the air, governments are responsible for maintaining good air quality and use regulation or market tools to manage polluting activities.    

Interest in markets for nature is growing, as witnessed by the worldwide growth in carbon markets and promotion of biodiversity markets. The growth of these markets worldwide provides an avenue to incorporate ‘exchange values’ in line with the SEEA EA. Progress in environmental-economic accounting can play a role in the longevity and uptake of markets for nature.   

Several techniques have been developed for placing a value on ecosystem services in the absence of exchange values, including:   

• observed market prices  
• replacement cost  
• avoided damage estimates  
• abatement cost estimates  
• various stated preference methods.

Following a similar framing to the SNA, the SEEA EA recommends that valuation methods for ecosystem services are applied in the order of preference in Figure 4 ( United Nations et al. 2021, para. 9.23) :   

Figure 4. SEEA EA tiered valuation approach

A flowchart with five numbered boxes arranged vertically, each describing different methods for pricing ecosystem services,  ranging from most preferred (1) to least preferred (5). Box 1: Methods where the price for the ecosystem service is directly observable. Box 2: Methods where the price for the ecosystem service is obtained from markets for similar goods and services. Box 3: Methods where the price for the ecosystem service is embodied in a market transaction. Box 4: Methods where the price for the ecosystem service is based on revealed expenditures (costs) for related goods and services. Box 5: Methods where the price for the ecosystem service is based on expected expenditures or markets. 

2.3 Key challenges

Key challenges in valuing ecosystem services include:   

• Uncertainty related to the complexities of ecosystem functions and processes that inhibit consideration of ecosystem services that are related to human activity.  
• Ecosystem provisioning services such as water supply may be undervalued because it may be difficult to estimate the value to be attributed to the ecosystem and how much can be attributed to subsequent economic activity (such as irrigation and farming, in the case of irrigated water).    
• The potential use of values from literature and databases (such as the Environmental Valuation Reference Inventory ) requires evaluation that they adequately reflect exchange values consistent with the SEEA EA framework.   

Appendix 3. Extensions to ecosystem accounts

According to the SEEA EA (United Nations et al. 2021):

“The framing provided by ecosystem accounting is systematic and comprehensive with respect to ecosystem extent, ecosystem condition and ecosystem services and provides one perspective on monetary values of ecosystem services and ecosystem assets… However, policy and analysis about the environment and human connection to it can be framed in many ways. Often it requires considering specific environmental themes, such as biodiversity, climate change, oceans and urban areas, among many others.”

This appendix explores how environmental-economic accounts and other data can be combined with ecosystem accounts to provide more specific information for decision-makers. It also discusses additional thematic accounts such as biodiversity and carbon and how to address issues in compiling these accounts.  

3.1 Analysing and integrating ecosystem accounts

While ecosystem accounts are designed to tell a story about environmental and economic interactions, a more complete picture can be painted by integrating ecosystems accounts with other environmental and economic data.

3.1.1 Environmental account integration

Over the past thirty years, the ABS has produced a range of individual environmental accounts, including accounts for water, energy, waste, land, fish, oceans, and environmental taxes, as well as national balance sheets estimates for minerals and forests. Integrated comparisons of these accounts across space and over time tells a more comprehensive picture of Australia’s environment, economy and society. It provides greater analytical power, and therefore an increased value for data users and policymakers. Below is a summary of environmental-economic accounts that the ABS produces on a regular basis. In the future, there is the potential to integrate information from these accounts into the National Ecosystem Accounts.

3.1.2 Economic data integration

As with all types of environmental-economic accounts, a key strength of ecosystem accounts is consistency with economic statistics, including GDP. An ecosystem account combined with economic statistics from the ABS can be used to understand the relationship between environmental change and the productivity of Australians, highlighting important interactions that are often hidden from decision-makers. This information may be used to better identify policies which separate or ‘decouple’ productivity from environmental harm. The combination of ecosystem and economic data supports a richer discussion of the connection between ecosystems and people. It underpins the development of indicators concerning this relationship, such as the contribution of ecosystem services to measures of economic production, and allows the derivation of adjusted national accounting aggregates such as degradation-adjusted measures of net domestic product (NDP).

Integrating ecosystems with the SNA

The SEEA EA suggests that one of the clearest means of examining the impact on the economy of consuming the environment is to integrate monetary valuation of degradation of ecosystems into an extended sequence of accounts based on the SNA.  

International interest in combining the economy and the environment is not new. The Convention on Biological Diversity established targets at the Aichi conference in 2011 to set out the first international efforts to integrate ecosystems and national accounting ( Aichi Biodiversity Targets) :   

“Target 2: By 2020, at the latest, biodiversity values have been integrated into national and local development and poverty reduction strategies and planning processes and are being incorporated into national accounting, as appropriate, and reporting systems.”

In 2025, the SNA will be updated to incorporate environmental measures, such as natural capital, to better understand our environmental assets. It will also look to improve the ability of a country to report on the money available to invest in the environment, and change some of the ways in which environmental products and services are measured.    

While developing SNA and ecosystem accounts in parallel is practical, there are also ways of incorporating ecosystem accounting into the SNA for a better understanding of our impact on nature.  Including the cost of ecosystem degradation in economic statistics allows us to account for changes in the ecosystem’s capacity to absorb pollution and the extent of industrial use of ecosystems. This degradation makes it more difficult to rely on ecosystem services, often leading to higher costs. As a result, both the economic resources available to Australians and the benefits provided by these ecosystems are reduced. For example, if a forest that helps clean our water is degraded, communities must pay for water purification machines, or society bears the health costs of drinking contaminated water. This leads to fewer ecosystem services for the water industry to utilise, lower business profits, higher costs and thus less savings for the future.   

An extended sequence of accounts

Table 3 is derived from Table 12.4 from the SEEA EA, and demonstrates an approach where ecosystem services are incorporated into the SNA to form an extended sequence of accounts.

Notes to Table 3

• Table 3 demonstrates a number of indicators that can inform how ecosystems are being consumed or damaged.    
• Degradation adjusted net value added is the amount available based on what is produced in the economy, adjusted by the amount of ecosystem degradation after depreciation.    
• Degradation adjusted net operating surplus is the amount available to be distributed to the economy, after workers are paid, and adjusted for ecosystems degradation.    
• Degradation adjusted disposable income is the amount available to all sectors of the economy to purchase products. A negative value means reliance on savings or on the environment.    
• Degradation adjusted net saving is the amount remaining after purchases for the year, taking into account ecosystem degradation resulting from this activity. A negative value indicates drawing down on future generations’ access to the environment to sustain current activity.    
• Net lending/borrowing is the amount Australia needs to drive the economy. A negative number denotes a need for capital from other countries. A positive number indicates capital available to lend to other countries

Alternatives to integrating national ecosystem and economic accounts

An alternative to integration is that environmental-economic accounting should remain separate from, but in parallel with, the SNA. By producing these environmental-economic accounts on a similar basis to the SNA, analysis can be undertaken to understand the relationship between the two sets of accounts.   

The result would be two sets of data where analysis and tools provide the avenue to integrate the economic and environmental streams. The key is to ensure that the data are conceptually similar notwithstanding differences in scope.   

One advantage of this approach is that it does not require monetisation of all ecosystems, ecosystem services and their attributes, rather monetary and physical indicators can be analysed side-by-side. For instance, economic data from the SNA can be combined with ecological data from iconic ecosystems, such as the Great Barrier Reef, to better understand how employment and economic output are linked to that ecosystem, without monetising ecosystem services.     

Taking this alternative integration approach would build indicators and information to inform progress and raise awareness of our impacts on the environment.   

3.2 Biodiversity accounts

Biodiversity accounts are considered a thematic account as they sit outside the SEEA EA framework of extent, condition and service accounts. Included in the National Ecosystem Accounts first release will be a biodiversity ‘thematic’ account. This section provides an overview of what a biodiversity account is and why it will be included it in the release.  

3.2.1 Biodiversity

Biodiversity, or biological diversity, is defined as   

‘the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems’ ( Convention on Biological Diversity (cbd.int) ) .

Biodiversity plays an essential role in supporting human wellbeing through maintaining functioning ecosystems that, in turn, deliver essential services such as food and the regulation of our climate, as well as other benefits such as the aesthetic enjoyment of natural landscapes. Biodiversity is especially important and valuable for Australia’s agriculture and tourism industries.  

3.2.2 What is biodiversity accounting and how does it fit into the SEEA EA?

Biodiversity accounting is a way of organising biodiversity information to align with ecosystem and other accounts that is useful for a range of users. Under the SEEA EA, biodiversity is expressed as a thematic account, which means it is a standalone account that organises data around a specific policy-relevant environmental theme. However, biodiversity accounting is complex and less advanced than other thematic accounts, such as carbon accounting. As such, while the SEEA EA offers guidance on the conceptual approach and the construction of biodiversity accounts, it remains flexible about interpretation of these guidelines.

3.2.3 Who is the intended audience of biodiversity accounts and what do they use the accounts for?

Biodiversity accounts provide biodiversity information in a way that enables detection of meaningful change across time and space, and to inform conservation management goals. They can also be linked to other relevant SEEA accounts, such as land or ecosystem accounts, to help understand how changes in natural assets correlate with changes in biodiversity. Biodiversity accounts can be used to answer questions such as:  

• How is biodiversity changing over time?  
• Which areas are experiencing the greatest gains or losses?  
• Which biodiversity features are changing the most?  
• What has been the consequence of past actions?  

There are different users for biodiversity accounts depending on the scale of the accounts. Account users at the national level include policymakers, federal government agencies, academics and the SEEA EA global community. Users at this level will find the biodiversity accounts help with Australia’s international reporting obligations and agreements, so the accounts must satisfy technical and non-technical users. At the sub-national level, account users include regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) bodies and local government, who need finer-scale accounts. Users may also include organisations relevant to the species groupings, such as tourism bodies, as well as the Australian community and media.

3.2.4 What is the scope of the biodiversity accounts?

The following aspects of national biodiversity accounts are fixed:   

• spatial scope - the accounts must have national coverage  
• time series - the data requires at least two points in time
• data quality
• geographic boundaries.  

The flexible aspects of the scope of the biodiversity accounts include the representation of biodiversity in terms of number of species or other taxonomic or functional grouping, and the user needs of the accounts.  

3.2.5 What are the challenges in biodiversity accounts?

Biodiversity accounting presents many challenges. It is not as developed as other ecosystem accounts so there is no standard approach for biodiversity accounts. For a country as large and biodiverse as Australia, there are many species with relatively little data; one species may occur in multiple ecosystem types, and species persistence often requires multiple connected areas of suitable habitat.  

3.2.6 What are the approaches to biodiversity account development, and how does this apply to the first release of the National Ecosystem Accounts?

The biodiversity accounts are highly experimental accounts and the guidelines in the SEEA EA are flexible. As a result, there have been varying approaches to the construction of biodiversity accounts so far. The ABS has pioneered Australian efforts in this space, with biodiversity featuring as part of the Experimental Environmental-Economic Accounts for the Great Barrier Reef, 2017 | Australian Bureau of Statistics ) and the discussion paper From Nature to the Table: Environmental-Economic Accounting for Agriculture, 2015–16 , adopting a direct accounting approach. CSIRO has published the Experimental Ecosystem Accounts for the Gunbower-Koondrook-Perricoota Forest Icon site report and the Experimental Ecosystem Accounts for the Murray-Darling Basin, adopting a modelling approach that predicts habitat in hectares for biodiversity, rather than directly measuring and accounting for biodiversity. International efforts have adopted a range of approaches.  

It is proposed to present both direct and modelled biodiversity approaches in the first release. To ensure consistency across all outputs within the National Ecosystem Accounts, the same ecosystem classifications, geographies and reference periods will be adopted.   

Direct accounts will be based on observational data and include counts of species by taxonomic group (e.g. birds, fish, reptiles) in species groupings that are relevant to different users.  

Species groupings may include:  

• species which provide regulating ecosystem services, such as pollinators (links to ecosystem services, agriculture)  
• iconic and tourism species (links to tourism, recreational fishing)  
• species of conservation concern (links to policy, funding projects)  
• indicator species for ecosystem condition (links to ecosystem condition)  
• pest and weed species (links to ecosystem condition, agriculture)  
• migratory species covered by international agreements, such as the Japan Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (JAMBA).  

Data sources will be selected based on spatial coverage, resolution, time series, quality, availability and relevance.  

Modelled accounts are based on known historical locations of species combined with habitat condition modelling. This approach uses a habitat-based biodiversity assessment, utilising ecosystem condition (derived from remote-sensing), biodiversity patterns (derived from ecological data) and ecosystem accounting areas to derive a set of biodiversity accounts. Species habitat requirements are combined with land cover data to produce habitat condition, while the species potential extent of occurrence is combined with ecological data to produce biodiversity patterns.  

Modelled accounts are likely to include:  

• expected persistence of species by taxonomic group (birds, fish, reptiles, vascular plants, fungi)  
• potential threatened species habitat in species hectares, where ‘species hectares’ is the number of species multiplied by the area of effective habitat.  

Anticipated limitations in the biodiversity accounts include issues around accuracy in modelled data, data gaps in observational data, especially spatial and temporal gaps, and sourcing data from different sources. Proposals to overcome these issues might include identifying where data is not available and ensuring concordance between different data sources, while still allowing for the effective and accurate comparison of data.

3.2.7 Future directions

For the first release, the scope of the biodiversity accounts will be limited by data availability. The spatial coverage of the data will be Australia-wide where possible, and the coverage of species will aim to be as comprehensive as possible.  

Beyond the first release, the scope of the biodiversity accounts has the potential to be expanded, and feedback on the first release can be incorporated to further improve the biodiversity accounts in the Australian context. This might target filling known data gaps, finding new data sources, and identifying where the accounts can be expanded, with the aim of refining biodiversity accounts for improved usability and connection to other accounts.  

3.3 Carbon accounting – sequestration and retention

Carbon accounts are another thematic presentation of the SEEA EA accounting information. A full carbon account will account for stocks of carbon across the geosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, the oceans and the economy, and the flows between them. This type of account is broader in coverage than ecosystem accounts as it includes carbon stocks beyond ecosystems; it is, however, closely linked to the SEEA EA accounts. Carbon accounts can also provide information to support measures of the ecosystem services of carbon sequestration and carbon retention. The SEEA EA defines global climate regulation services as:   

"the ecosystem contributions to reducing concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere through the removal (sequestration) of carbon from the atmosphere and the retention (storage) of carbon in ecosystems. These services support the regulation of the chemical composition of the atmosphere and oceans."

This section focuses on the development of ecosystem service accounts relating to carbon sequestration and retention. The SEEA EA considers two main components of global climate regulation services: carbon sequestration and carbon retention. Carbon sequestration refers to the ability of ecosystems to remove carbon from the atmosphere, while carbon retention is the ability of ecosystems to maintain carbon stocks, thereby avoiding emissions to the atmosphere. The total carbon stock in the environment is substantial and can vary significantly between ecosystems.    

Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Accounts and National Inventory Reports (DCCEEW) focus on estimating GHG emissions to fulfil international reporting obligations and to track progress toward emission reduction targets. However, ecosystem accounts provide complementary insights by highlighting the role of ecosystems in stabilising the climate and mitigating climate change.  

3.3.1 Carbon in the SEEA EA

The SEEA EA outlines specific measurement boundaries for carbon retention. These include stocks limited to carbon stored in above-ground and below-ground living and dead biomass, as well as soil organic carbon. Inorganic carbon stored in freshwater, marine, and subterranean ecosystems is excluded from this scope. Additionally, carbon stored in fossil fuel deposits are not considered an ecosystem service, as these deposits are not a component of ecosystem assets.   

Carbon sequestration concerns only carbon that is expected to be stored for long periods of time, although this storage may be either within an ecosystem or in the economy. Carbon that is sequestered but not stored for long is excluded.  

Ecosystems store carbon in various forms including biomass (both above and below ground), debris, soil, and sediment. Rates of carbon retention and sequestration vary based on numerous factors, and ecosystems can also release greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. For ecosystem accounting under the SEEA EA, it is essential to account for both the removal of carbon from the atmosphere and the loss of carbon stocks. Accurately estimating carbon retention and sequestration on a national scale is complex, and comprehensive national datasets are currently lacking .

3.3.2 Data for carbon accounting

In the absence of a national dataset, the primary source for carbon retention data in Australia is the Full Carbon Accounting Model (FullCAM) produced by DCCEEW. FullCAM is used to estimate carbon stocks in managed and cultivated land and contributes to Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Accounts for the land use, land use change and forestry sectors. It is also incorporated into the National Inventory Reports. FullCAM incorporates various models that consider factors such as microbial decomposition of organic matter, climatic conditions and soil data to estimate carbon retention. However, FullCAM is limited to managed ecosystems and does not account for carbon stocks in natural or unmanaged ecosystems. This limitation affects the model's accuracy for such ecosystems.  

For specific ecosystems like mangroves, which are highly relevant for carbon retention, FullCAM’s models are more appropriate due to their forested nature. Conversely, other ecosystems such as seagrass are modelled in FullCAM using different approaches, including a model designed for estimating emissions from seagrass habitat excavation due to capital dredging. This model may not fully align with the needs of carbon accounting. Ecosystems like saltmarsh, which store less carbon, are aggregated into broader categories, which may reduce the precision of carbon estimates but are unlikely to significantly impact overall estimates.  

Additional limitations with using FullCAM include discrepancies between FullCAM outputs and IUCN GET functional group classifications.  

In the experimental National Ocean Account , the Blue Carbon Accounting Model (BlueCAM) (Clean Energy Regulator) was used to estimate carbon sequestration in coastal ecosystems. BlueCAM uses Australian data to estimate abatement from carbon and greenhouse gas sources and sinks associated with coastal wetland restoration (e.g. tidal restoration) and adheres to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories. BlueCAM includes carbon sequestered in soils and biomass and excludes emissions from alternative land uses. However, BlueCAM’s scope is limited to blue carbon coastal ecosystems and does not extend to terrestrial ecosystems.  

In the absence of national sequestration data, FullCAM may be used to estimate sequestration for certain ecosystems. Net sequestration can be estimated as the difference in carbon stocks between sequential years, measured in tonnes of CO2-equivalent (CO2e) per year. Since FullCAM only models anthropogenic changes, it does not capture stock changes in natural ecosystems, which is a significant limitation.  

Both BlueCAM and FullCAM offer potential for providing estimates that can be used to produce some of the inputs into National Ecosystem Accounts. Assessments are underway as to the best source of data to use, or how to integrate these different approaches to carbon modelling into a coherent set of accounts. An ongoing program of continuous improvement provides scope to modify the FullCAM model to make outputs more fit-for-purpose, and also to develop methods to integrate new datasets as they become available.  

While existing models like FullCAM and BlueCAM offer data critical for ecosystem accounting, there are inherent limitations and gaps. Further work is required to develop fit-for-purpose carbon estimates to produce ongoing carbon retention and sequestration accounts in Australia.  

Appendix 4. An example of a National Ecosystem Account

To illustrate the format and information in the National Ecosystem Accounts, this appendix illustrates the National Ecosystem Accounts for rivers in Australia for 2010–11 to 2015–16.    

Rivers are one of the most recognised freshwater ecosystems in the Australian landscape. They are often the focus of our cities and towns, and their condition is ultimately entwined with the use of the landscapes that surround them. Rivers provide a number of services, including water filtration, recreation and food provisioning. In this example set of accounts, the focus is on the single ecosystem service of freshwater provisioning.

4.1 Summary of methods

4.1.1 river extent.

These ecosystems conform with the IUCN GET Rivers and Streams biome. River systems have been split into perennial (usually flowing) and non-perennial (sometimes flowing), based on the native source data classifications from Geofabric dataset v3.3. This division reflects current scientific appreciation of non-perennial systems as different from perennial rivers, but important as an area where the riverine ecosystems interact with upstream terrestrial ecosystems (Datry et al. 2023). The extent of the river ecosystem and the distribution of perennial and non-perennial rivers is taken from the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) Geofabric dataset v3.3 © Commonwealth of Australia 2021. The Australian Hydrological Geospatial Fabric (AHGF) Mapped Stream layer was used and split using the attribute ‘Perennial’.  

The data sources available for this account provide a single set of extent numbers that are static over time, but which can be used to generate the condition accounts below. As a result, opening and closing stocks are the same for rivers - there is no change narrative associated with this account.

4.1.2 River condition

Freshwater ecological condition, especially that of rivers, is known to be influenced strongly by adjacent land use (Allan et al. 2004; Hynes, 1960). With this, the SEEA EA recognises the utility of recording environmental pressures as a surrogate for condition, providing this linkage is well documented:

“The measurement of environmental pressures is often considered as an indirect approach for measuring ecosystem condition (European Commission, 2016, p. 31). An environmental pressure is a human-induced process that alters the condition of ecosystems (Maes et al. 2018). If there are little data available on state, then measures of pressures on ecosystems can be considered a useful surrogate, as long as the relationship between the two is well understood and justified (Bland et al. 2018; United Nations et al. 2021, s 5.105)."

In the recent Australia State of the Environment (SOE) report (DCCEEW, 2021), a ranking of land use was used that combined the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences ( ABARES) Australian Land Use and Management (ALUM) Classification into 4 classes of Land Use Intensity (LUI) - these are described in Table 4.  

These categories allow a simple measure of landscape condition to be mapped nationally. Land use data, collated by ABARES based on the ALUM classification, is supplied at five-year intervals and maps a complex of land uses across Australia. For the river condition account this land use intensity dataset has been mapped onto river ecosystems to generate a spatial layer of river condition for Australia. 

For these accounts the river lines (perennial and non-perennial) were intersected with the LUI maps for 2010–11 to 2015–16 to look at differences in the lengths of each river that fell within each of the four LUI categories between the two time periods. This shows changes in land use along rivers in the five years between the two LUI maps.

4.1.3 Water supply ecosystem service (physical measures)

Water provisioning services involve the use of water abstracted from the environment by economic units (businesses, households and government) for consumption or production processes. The physical supply and use tables (PSUT) show the volume of surface water supply and usage across states, territories, and nationally for the years 2010–11 and 2015–16. The PSUT were compiled using data on surface water from the Water Account, Australia (ABS) and associated input data sources.  

The surface water was extracted from an ecosystem classified under the Rivers and Streams biome level. In the absence of spatial data for water extraction, it was not possible to identify the sub-state location and types of ecosystems from which water was extracted for economic purposes at a resolution below the biome level.  

Water use is allocated to the economic unit where environmental extraction occurred. End use by other users is outside the scope of the ecosystem accounts and is typically covered under economic accounts.   

Three classifications of final water provisioning ecosystem services, according to the CICES, have been compiled. These are: 4.2.1.1 Surface water used for drinking, 4.2.1.2 Surface water used as a material, and 4.2.1.3 Surface water used as an energy source.

Surface water used for drinking

Surface water for drinking is the distribution of the volume of surface water (in megalitres), by water supply companies to households. These data were derived from the Water Account, Australia (ABS), based on data collected via an ABS census of all known water and wastewater suppliers and utilities across Australia.  

Surface water used as a material

Surface water used as a material input into production includes the volume of water that is distributed by water supply companies to other industries including the Agriculture, forestry and fishing industry, the Mining industry and the Manufacturing industry. Water is also self-extracted by these industries and this information is also sourced from the Water Account, Australia (ABS).  

Surface water used as an energy source

Freshwater used for generating hydroelectricity constitutes the majority of the surface water used in energy production. This high volume of water is a non-consumptive use as it is immediately returned to the environment, however, it is recorded as it provides an economic benefit. This data was published in the Water Account, Australia (ABS) as the volume of water used by the Electricity and gas supply industry.

4.1.4 Water supply ecosystem service (monetary measures)

Consistent with paragraph 8.13 in the SEEA EA guidelines (United Nations et al. 2021), water provisioning services are valued through exchange values that are estimated based on median market prices of tradable allocations within Australian surface water markets.  

The extensive use of tradable water allocations within Australia provides an opportunity to value water provisioning services at market prices (United Nations et al. 2021). Water allocations are “the specific volume of water allocated to water access entitlements in a given water accounting period” (Water Act 2007). Water access entitlements and allocations are typically tradable on open markets, separate from the land they adjoin. This allows the valuation of the water resource itself, through water access entitlements, and the allocations allow the market valuation of service flows from the water resource.  

Surface water allocation prices in Australian water markets are driven by a number of supply and demand factors. Annual water allocations affect the supply of water in the market. Annual allocations are dependent upon factors such as rainfall, water storage, and allocation carryover.   

Demand for allocations is driven by factors such as changes in agricultural demand for water due to investment and production changes, institutional arrangements, and climatic influences such as temperature and evaporation (BoM, 2023). Water allocation prices in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia are similar, reflecting the trading opportunities across the basin. The value of the water provisioning service as a material is based predominantly on trades in the MDB from the BoM (BoM, 2024). These allocation trades reflect prices of water allocations for use in agriculture, manufacturing, and drinking water.   

The number and size of water trades often reflects rainfall seasonality. For instance, in 2015–16, some areas of Victoria recorded the lowest percentile of rain on record, which resulted in lower water allocations and higher allocation prices (ABARES, 2017b). For other areas, southern MDB median prices gradually increased from their low in 2010–11 to reach their highest peak in 2015–16.  

Southern MDB allocation trades make up around 90% of national allocation trades (ABARES, 2017b). Given the prevalence of MDB water allocation trading in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, state level price estimates ($/ML) will align heavily with prices in the southern MDB network. Australian Capital Territory valuation will generally align with New South Wales’ prices.    

The data collected by BoM for surface water allocation trades includes many trades with no price reported. Such trades represent misreporting or sales which are not at “arm’s length” and have been excluded from the estimates (BoM, 2023). Likewise, trades with values in excess of $10,000 per ML have been excluded, as they are assumed to include values beyond the right to abstract the water (BoM, 2023).  

By aggregating median prices, national and state prices reflect catchments with a higher numbers of trades, specifically trades within the MDB, as these represent the most traded allocations. The number of allocation trades collected for Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania is currently small, representing a “thin” market. At this stage, no monetary values have been produced for these states.

4.1.5 Data sources

Geofabric dataset v3.3 (bom, 2021).

River lengths were sourced from Geofabric V3x All Products - Overview (bom.gov.au) . These data are supplied as GDA94 (EPSG 4283) and were converted to the Australian Albers version (EPSG3577). 

Land Use of Australia (ABARES, 2022)

Land use intensity was determined from Land use of Australia 2010–11 to 2015–16, 250 m - DAFF (agriculture.gov.au) , which is collated by ABARES according to the Australian Land Use and Management Classification version  8 .

Australia State of the Environment 2021 (DCCEEW, 2021)

Groupings of land use intensity published in the Australia state of the environment 2021 (dcceew.gov.au) l an d chapter were applied to generate LUI classifications.

Water Account, Australia (ABS)

Data were collated from the ‘Physical Supply and Use Tables, by Water Type’ for each state and territory and nationally from the Water Account, Australia. The data in the 2016-17 publication of the Water Account, Australia, were used to compile the ecosystem account for 2010–11 ( 4610.0 - Water Account, Australia, 2016-17 (abs.gov.au)). The data for 2015–16 was from the Water Account, Australia, 2021-22 publication Water Account, Australia, 2021-22 financial year | Australian Bureau of Statistics (abs.gov.au) . Where data were aggregated for 2010–11, information from the time series presented in the Water Account, Australia, 2021–22, were used to estimate these values.

Water Information Dashboard (BoM)

Data on surface water allocation trades has been sourced from the BoM ( Water Information Dashboard: Water Information: Bureau of Meteorology ), which constitutes reported data from a range of Commonwealth, state and private sector sources. In the valuation of monetary supply and use of water provisioning services, median surface water allocation trade prices have been aggregated to produce a median price nationally, and for New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory.

4.2 Summary analysis of river accounts

4.2.1 river extent.

The lengths of the perennial and non-perennial rivers in each state and territory in Australia are shown in Table 5. There are roughly 25 times as much length of non-perennial than perennial rivers in Australia. New South Wales contains almost 60% of Australia’s perennial rivers, while Queensland is home to the greatest length (34%) of non-perennial rivers.

Footnote: this includes linear measures through lakes and estuaries that lie along the river path.

4.2.2 River condition

In the following commentary LUI 1 is the least intense land use (near natural), and LUI 4 is the most intense land use, including urban development and industrial areas. In 2015–16,  

• 29% of perennial rivers were located within relatively natural land use (LUI 1)  
• 25% were associated with extensive (low intensity) production land such as grazing native vegetation and native production forests (LUI 2)   
• Half of non-perennial rivers were located within low intensity production uses LUI 2, and 32% were relatively natural LUI 1.
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Between 2010–11 to 2015–16, there was an observed increase in the intensity of land use adjacent to rivers and streams.

• The length of perennial rivers flowing through intensive production uses (LUI 3) increased 29.5% (5,657 km). This was driven by New South Wales, which increased by 41.9% (5,322 km).
• River length through urban and other intensive land uses increased by 11.7% (637 km).
• Over the same period, river length crossing less intensive land uses LUI 1 and LUI 2 decreased (867 km and 4,978 km respectively).  

At the state level:

• A similar intensification trend of decreasing LUI 1 and LUI 2 and increasing LUI 3 and LUI 4 was present in most states and territories and in both perennial and non-perennial rivers, although LUI 1 increased slightly (2.3%) in non-perennial rivers.
• All states and territories registered an increase in LUI 4, except for the Australian Capital Territory, which lost LUI 4 river length and gained small amounts in LUI 1.

4.2.3 Water supply ecosystem service (physical measures)

The bulk of surface water provisioning services was for use as an energy source (48,490 GL, 82.3% of total water provisioning services in 2015–16). This is dominated by hydroelectricity generation, where the water is not consumed but used to produce energy and is then immediately returned to the environment. 

Consumptive water provisioning services include surface water used as a material in production and for drinking.   In 2015–16, these amounted to 10,461 GL (17.7% of the national total):

• Water used as a material in production accounted for 8,961 GL, or 85.7% of consumptive surface water provisioning services.
• 1,500 GL of freshwater was extracted from rivers and streams for drinking (14.3% of consumptive use) - this was an increase of 7.4%  from 2010–11.

Surface water for drinking

Drinking water is extracted by the Water supply, sewerage, and drainage services industry before being distributed to households. In 2015–16:

• New South Wales used the most surface water, 509 GL, distributed for drinking - this represents 34% of the surface water distributed to households in Australia.
• Victoria and Queensland are the second and third highest users of distributed drinking water, using 394 GL (26%) and 310 GL (21%) respectively.

The Water supply, sewerage and drainage services industry extracts and redistributes water for use as a material in production to other industries including the Agricultural, Mining, and Manufacturing industries. These industries also self-extract water.

• The Water supply, sewerage and drainage services industry extracted 7,202 GL for use as a material in 2015–16, an increase of 1,408 GL (24.3%) from 2010–11.
• The Agriculture, forestry and fishing industry self-extracted the most surface water for use as a material in production (1219 GL in 2015–16, 13.6% of the national total).

Surface water used for energy is dominated by Tasmania as it generates over half of Australia’s hydroelectricity  ( Australian Energy Statistics - Table O Electricity generation by fuel type 2016-17 and 2017 | energy.gov.au ).

• During 2015–16, Tasmania used 30,854 GL, 63.6% of the national total water used for energy.
• Between 2010–11 and 2015–16, water used for energy fell 16.7% nationally due to lower rainfall and levels of water storage. This was evident in most states and territories.

4.2.4 Water supply ecosystem service (monetary measures)

In 2015–16:

• Australia’s rivers and streams provided $2.02b in water provisioning services for use as a material, based on an Australia-wide median water allocation price of $225/ML. 
• This was an increase of $1.77b from $244m in 2010–11, due to lower rainfall and reduced water allocations coupled with higher water demand. 
• New South Wales water provisioning services for use as a material were valued at $612m in 2015–16, a five-fold increase from $114m in 2010–11.
• In South Australia, the value of water used as a material increased to $95m, from $5m in 2010–11.
• Water used as a material in Victoria was valued at $48m in 2010–11. Valuation for 2015–16 in Victoria was not available.

*Total surface water used as a material in Victoria in 2015-16 was not available for publication.

2015–16 total state/territory values for Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory and 2010–11 total state/territory values for the Australian Capital Territory are not available due to data confidentiality. Values of water provisioning services for Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory have not been included due to data gaps and quality concerns. Values for surface water used for drinking or as an energy source (i.e. hydroelectricity) have not been estimated for this publication.

Data downloads

Example data cubes.

Ecosystem accounts for rivers in Australia have been compiled for 2010–11 to 2015–16 to illustrate the format and information in the National Ecosystem Accounts. For commentary and summary methods used to compile example accounts, refer to Appendix 4.

Ecosystem extent account, River lengths

Ecosystem condition account, rivers and streams, ecosystem services, supply and use, australia, ecosystem services, supply and use, new south wales, ecosystem services, supply and use, victoria, ecosystem services, supply and use, queensland, ecosystem services, supply and use, south australia, ecosystem services, supply and use, western australia, ecosystem services, supply and use, tasmania, ecosystem services, supply and use, northern territory, ecosystem services, supply and use, australian capital territory.

Abbreviations

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Hynes HBN (1960) ‘The Biology of Polluted Waters’, Liverpool University Press: Liverpool.  

Schenau S, van Berkel J, Bogaart P, Blom C, Driessen C, de Jongh L, de Jong R, Horlings E, Mosterd R, Hein L, Lof M (2022)  Valuing ecosystem services and ecosystem assets for The Netherlands , OneEcosystem, accessed 2 July 2024.

United Nations, European Commission, International Monetary Fund, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, World Bank (2009) ‘System of National Accounts 2008’, United Nations.

United Nations (2021) ‘SEEA Experimental Ecosystem Accounting Technical Committee System of Environmental-Economic Accounting, Ecosystem Accounting – Key proposals for refining SEEA EA, Version 2.0’, United Nations.

United Nations et al. (2021)  System of Environmental-Economic Accounting—Ecosystem Accounting  (white cover version), United Nations, accessed 30 June 2024.

Vardon M and Onder S (2023) ‘Water valuation at a global scale: how can we add water to the wealth of the nations using the SNA and SEEA?’, United Nations.  

Water Act (No 137) 2007 (Cth).

Williams K, Hunter B, Schmidt B, Woodward E & Cresswell I (2021) ‘Australia state of the environment 2021: land’, independent report to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, doi:10.26194/6EAM-6G50.