Natural Capital
Natural Capital Account in the Northern and Yorke Region
The Northern and Yorke Landscape Board is developing a Natural Capital Account (NCA) to better connect the work we do on-ground with measurable environmental, economic, social and cultural outcomes.
A Natural Capital Account is a structured way of describing the extent and condition of ecosystems, along with the services and benefits they provide. It uses consistent data and clear indicators to track and measure change over time.
Northern and Yorke’s Natural Capital Account will support better decision-making, help us communicate the impact of our work more clearly and attract targeted investment to manage, restore and enhance the region’s natural capital.
A key part of the project is organising and connecting the data we already have. This will:
- Improve transparency and understanding of landscape condition and the impact of management actions
- Support planning, investment and policy decisions by identifying where actions will deliver the greatest environmental benefits
- Strengthen our ability to communicate clear, evidence-based outcomes
- Position the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board for emerging opportunities in nature repair and environmental markets, while supporting broader adoption across South Australia.
For staff, the Natural Capital Account will make the important work already happening across the organisation more visible, measurable and easier to communicate.
A collaborative approach
The Northern and Yorke Landscape Board has engaged IDEEA Group to support the development of the region’s Natural Capital Account and Biodiversity Scorecard.
This project is designed as a collaborative and practical process. We are working closely with Landscape Board staff, partners and regional experts to ensure the final tools reflect existing knowledge and are useful for day-to-day decision-making and reporting.
A regional Advisory Group has been formed with expertise from EPA, SA Water, Greening Australia, RegenCo, Pinion Advisory, Adelaide University, Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board, Nature Foundation, Five Nations Landscape Committee, and SA Government.
The Natural Capital Account will be developed in line with the global standard – the UN System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) framework. The SEEA is an internationally agreed standard for natural capital accounting, including definitions, classifications and rules for producing internationally comparable accounts.
About IDEEA Group
IDEEA Group are global leaders in natural capital accounting and lead authors of the international standard - the UN System of Environmental-Economic Accounting.
IDEEA Group develop and apply natural capital accounts and provide data solutions and tools to manage and analyse natural capital information. They provide services and capacity building for organisations implementing a natural capital approach.
Project phases and outcomes.
Northern and Yorke Natural Capital Account 2025-2026
Early 2025 | Scoping
A scope was developed, and a range of interviews were conducted to find a partner to help the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board. More than seven organisations were approached and interviewed.
What we learned: Everyone is doing it a little differently. With several using SEEA framework as a starting point. Others offered different web-based tools, data sources or approaches.
Mid 2025 | IDEAA group
The Northern and Yorke Project Group chose to work with IDEEA Group. Together, they refined a proposal that would be iterative and adaptive, seeking to build on and incorporate staff and local knowledge. IDEEA Group have expertise in the design and implementation of measurement frameworks, environmental markets, environmental evaluation, spatial analytics, sustainability, and risk management.
Late 2025 | Framing
A staff survey was undertaken to help to target the account development to staff knowledge and desired applications. Then, discovery sessions and in-person workshops were used to identify work areas, possible data, and challenges and opportunities in their work.
What we learned: Natural capital and its value are not new concepts. But, there is concern about how this project will be deployed and incorporated into duties.
Late 2025 | Advisory Group
An Advisory Group was formed - includes regional assets managers, carbon conservation, agriculture, and Indigenous knowledge.
What we are learning: We have a lot to learn about ways to measure and why, but we are engaging early advocates and potential beneficiaries through our Advisory Group.
November 2025 - ongoing | Build
Using identified data and inputs from discovery sessions. IDEEA Group optimise data to build an early account from multiple sources, which will provide an overview of the ecosystems within the region, including extent accounts and key ecosystem characteristics.
What we are learning: Getting the data has taken time, and it's not consistent in quality or scale.
November 2025 - ongoing | Measure
Northern Yorke Landscape Board and IDEEA Group knew there would be data gaps, which means we may need to use national or global data or proxies. We may also want to interrogate what local knowledge can be applied and/or focus on certain assets or aspects of the region we know well.
What we want to learn: Our aim has always been that this is an iterative and adaptive process. We want to apply and demonstrate the value of a Natural Capital Accounting on what we can, but also form a plan for how to fill gaps and improve the consistency and process of capturing data.
Early 2026 onwards | Apply
Accounts are nearing completion, built on local advice and a practical framework and process for collecting ongoing data. Outputs will include Natural Capital scorecards for key assets, focusing on condition and biodiversity health.
How we keep learning: Future stages of projects could source additional data, more robust measurement methods that will help deploy greater or targeted insights for key partners, with unique needs or who are seeking specific outcomes.