14303_doi_deposit 20230327080000 assa nadiag@assaf.org.za assa South African Journal of Science S. Afr. J. Sci 1996-7489 03292023 119 3/4 Susan Taljaard Coastal Systems and Earth Observations Research Group, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Stellenbosch, South Africa Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6206-8623 Lara van Niekerk Coastal Systems and Earth Observations Research Group, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Stellenbosch, South Africa Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5761-1337 Janine B. Adams Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa DSI/NRF Research Chair in Shallow Water Ecosystems, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7204-123X Taryn Riddin Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa DSI/NRF Research Chair in Shallow Water Ecosystems, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5877-3431 Rapid degradation of ecosystems and loss of ecosystem services have sparked interest in developing approaches to report and integrate such change with socio-economic information systems, such as the System of National Accounts. Here we describe an approach and application of ecosystem accounting for individual estuaries, building on approaches previously applied at national and bay levels. Using the Swartkops Estuary as a case study, the focus is on physical accounts for ecosystem extent and condition, as well as accounts for two important ecosystem services (carbon sequestration and recreational use). Pressure accounts are also introduced to demonstrate the value of identifying key areas for management and restoration interventions in response to changes in extent and/or condition accounts. Greater resolution in these account reports, achieved through zoning, provides spatially explicit information on ecosystem assets and their services within an estuary to also inform management decision-making at local level. Further, these accounts can also inform local restoration prioritisation, in support of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030), for example offsetting irreversibly degraded areas in one zone with restoration or maintenance of similar habitats in another. 03292023 1 10.17159/sajs.2016/crossmark sajs.co.za false 2022-07-06 2023-01-05 2023-03-29 National Research Foundation http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001321 Department of Science and Innovation, South Africa http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100016962 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 10.17159/sajs.2023/14303 20230327080000 https://sajs.co.za/article/view/14303 https://sajs.co.za/article/view/14303/19774 https://sajs.co.za/article/view/14303/19774 https://sajs.co.za/article/view/14303/19774 https://sajs.co.za/article/view/14303/19774 https://sajs.co.za/article/view/14303/19774 https://sajs.co.za/article/view/14303/19774 https://sajs.co.za/article/view/14303/19774