Environmental accounts

In 2019, in partnership with the University of Tasmania, BIEN set up a framework for environmental accounting on Bruny.

The ‘natural assets’ and the underlying elements we chose to track were:

1. marine habitats – recreational fishing sustainability, changes in marine water quality, such as nitrogen levels
2. terrestrial habitats – long-term forest cover changes, changes in area of protected/covenanted land, changes in land uses,
3. native species – the ‘health’ and value of the plant and wildlife species -a possible roadkill account, impact of cat management, value of threatened and endemic species plus more,
4. coastal landforms and habitats – coastal erosion, saltmarsh changes and salt intrusions into aquifers,
5. potable water supply (only from the coastal groundwater aquifer)
6. Bruny’s ‘nature’ in the broad. This one is about understanding and tracking things that represent the general sense of Bruny as a natural place for visitors and residents – how to ensure that the things that draw people to Bruny are maintained – how to strengthen the Bruny brand. In environmental accounting terms, this is about measuring the flow of ecosystem services to visitors and residents and, where possible, the stock of underlying natural assets with the capacity to provide those flows. It would draw on the other accounts for some data.

This approach was developed in conjunction and collaboration with industry – in particular, the tourism industry, including private and government elements.

Unfortunately, COVID hit just as we were about to start implementation, and the effort died.

In retrospect, the process was probably too much for a small ‘for purpose’ organisation like BIEN.

The result of this effort was to focus on smaller, ‘doable’ tasks like Threatened Woodland Birds of Bruny Island

Here is a summary in preparation of the 3rd collaborative workshop, where tasks were to be allocated.