TY - JOUR

T1 - Towards standardized ecosystem condition assessments

T2 - Selecting agroecosystem condition indicators based on SEEA EA with an example application in Lower Saxony, Germany

AU - Bank, Emily

AU - Lange, Sabine

AU - Czúcz, Bálint

AU - Hinsch, Malte

AU - Burkhard, Benjamin

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Authors

PY - 2025/8

Y1 - 2025/8

N2 - Human well-being strongly relies on agroecosystems in good condition to ensure food security and a sustainable Ecosystem Services (ES) supply. However, agroecosystems face growing threats from environmental pressures, increasing the need for conservation and restoration measures. Their targeted and efficient implementation requires reliable, comprehensive and standardized methods to assess and monitor agroecosystem condition. To support such integrated assessments, we aimed to identify a set of suitable agroecosystem condition indicators. We applied the UN System of Environmental Economic Accounting – Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA), to support standardized assessments. In a literature review, we identified the most relevant agroecosystem characteristics based on expert knowledge and current practice. Subsequently, we applied the SEEA EA selection criteria to filter the most suitable indicators and datasets under conceptual and practical aspects. Finally, we mapped the selected indicators and checked the entire set for redundancies. We used the Federal State of Lower Saxony (Germany) as an exemplary study area, including both agricultural croplands and grasslands. The review revealed 19 relevant physical, chemical, compositional, structural, functional and landscape agroecosystem state characteristics. The subsequent filtering process resulted in a comprehensive set of nine ecosystem condition indicators. The selected indicators are suitable to support comprehensive agroecosystem condition assessments for various purposes. However, high-resolution data availability remains a key limiting factor, restricting the suitability of the selected indicators to regional-scale assessments. While the indicator set already can support monitoring procedures, future research is needed to define reference levels and to calculate condition indicators with a normative meaning.

AB - Human well-being strongly relies on agroecosystems in good condition to ensure food security and a sustainable Ecosystem Services (ES) supply. However, agroecosystems face growing threats from environmental pressures, increasing the need for conservation and restoration measures. Their targeted and efficient implementation requires reliable, comprehensive and standardized methods to assess and monitor agroecosystem condition. To support such integrated assessments, we aimed to identify a set of suitable agroecosystem condition indicators. We applied the UN System of Environmental Economic Accounting – Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA), to support standardized assessments. In a literature review, we identified the most relevant agroecosystem characteristics based on expert knowledge and current practice. Subsequently, we applied the SEEA EA selection criteria to filter the most suitable indicators and datasets under conceptual and practical aspects. Finally, we mapped the selected indicators and checked the entire set for redundancies. We used the Federal State of Lower Saxony (Germany) as an exemplary study area, including both agricultural croplands and grasslands. The review revealed 19 relevant physical, chemical, compositional, structural, functional and landscape agroecosystem state characteristics. The subsequent filtering process resulted in a comprehensive set of nine ecosystem condition indicators. The selected indicators are suitable to support comprehensive agroecosystem condition assessments for various purposes. However, high-resolution data availability remains a key limiting factor, restricting the suitability of the selected indicators to regional-scale assessments. While the indicator set already can support monitoring procedures, future research is needed to define reference levels and to calculate condition indicators with a normative meaning.

KW - Croplands

KW - Degradation

KW - Ecological condition

KW - Ecosystem characteristics

KW - Grasslands

KW - Restoration

KW - Selection criteria

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105009255383&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113813

DO - 10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113813

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105009255383

VL - 177

JO - Ecological indicators

JF - Ecological indicators

SN - 1470-160X

M1 - 113813

ER -