Preserving aquatic environments and biodiversity: the potential of “ecosystem-centered accounting” to strengthen coalitions for action[Préservation des milieux aquatiques et de la biodiversité: le potentiel de la "Comptabilité écosystème-centrée" pour renforcer des coalitions d'action]

Faced with the ongoing deterioration of aquatic environments and biodiversity due to a variety of anthropogenic pressures and climate change, the issue of coordinating and strategically guiding environmental action is a key challenge. This research paper reports on the results of an experiment with an innovative approach: "ecosystem-centered accounting." This approach involves developing shared accounting systems to coordinate the preservation and restoration of natural environments among several actors and at several levels (local and regional). This three-year intervention-based research project was conducted in three study areas representative of the major challenges facing aquatic environment protection in Occitanie and has enabled initial conclusions to be drawn about the potential of this method for equipping coalitions of territorial actions in favor of biodiversity. Promising prospects have been identified for its further development, adoption, and dissemination among local authorities and professionals involved in natural environment management.