Title : Using natural capital accounting to support the implementation of ecovillages in Madagascar
Abstract:
Natural Capital Accounting (NCA) offers a strategic framework to align ecological conservation with local development planning. In Madagascar, the Ecovillage Project (PECOV) applied ecosystem accounting to guide the implementation of 18 ecovillages across nine communes in the Haute Matsiatra and Amoron’i Mania regions by integrating biophysical data into decision-making processes.
The project employed the Ecosystem Natural Capital Accounting (ENCA) methodology, which includes biophysical accounts—carbon, water, and ecosystem infrastructure—built upon a harmonized land cover base. Land cover changes were analysed diachronically (2018–2023) using high-resolution satellite data (NICFI, Sentinel-1 & 2, SRTM), providing insights into landscape dynamics.
Ecosystem accounts were generated with the Sys4ENCA tool, developed by VITO and IUCN, enabling partial automation and the production of composite indicators such as resource use indices and the Total Ecosystem Capacity (TEC).
Between 2018 and 2023, village areas grew by +112 hectares, and agricultural land expanded by +385 hectares. Conversely, natural forests declined by −642 hectares, mainly near watershed areas. The carbon account showed a negative Net Ecosystem Carbon Balance (NECB), averaging −2.8 tonnes of carbon per hectare, in spite of community reforestation initiatives. Water accounts indicated an −18% reduction in effective precipitation during the dry season. The TEC fell from 2.05 million to 1.82 million Ecosystem Capability Units (−11.2%).
By cross-referencing these indicators, the project identified resilient zones, guiding site selection and prioritizing restoration. NCA proved an operational tool for aligning conservation, local development, and territorial planning. This case study underscores the value of integrated ecosystem accounting for sustainable development, paving the way for scaling this approach to other ecologically valuable regions, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and post-2020 CBD commitments.
