Accredited Methods.

An Accredited Method is an essential step in following the Accounting for Nature® Framework and preparing an Environmental Account.

About methods.

Methods contain detailed measurement and reporting requirements for specific environmental assets in specific regions, ecosystems, or sub-regions. In preparing an Environmental Account, users must select a method to follow for each Environmental Asset.

To have an Environmental Account certified by Accounting for Nature a number of options in selecting methods is available, depending on the measurement and monitoring requirements of the project and what the Environmental Account will be used for. A user can;

  • Download and use any ‘open’ method,

  • Use a ‘licensed’ method, which may require payment of a licensing fee,

  • Develop a new method, and submit it to the Independent Science Committee (ISC) for accreditation and approval for use under the Framework.

Method Authors have the option to restrict public use of (‘embargo’) their method for up to three years. Where a method is “under embargo”, a client requires permission from the Method Manager to view the method including the requirement to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and further permission to use it within the embargo period.

What is an accuracy level?

Methods that are accredited for use under the Framework are developed at a particular ‘Accuracy Level’. The accuracy level reflects the robustness of a methods’ approach to measuring the condition of the Environmental Asset. As a rule, the higher the Accuracy (Very High (95%) being the highest), the greater the accuracy of the condition assessment and the higher the methods ability to detect change. For more detail on Accuracy Levels, the statistical theory and appropriate uses, refer to Section 3.15 and Appendix A in the Method Rules.

What level method do I need?

Methods for establishing an Environmental Account should be selected based on the accuracy level required to support the intended purpose of the Environmental Account. For example, you may decide to use methods with Very High (95%) Accuracy where you wish to participate in any environmental market, High (90%) Accuracy for helping to support your public sustainability claims, and Moderate (80%) Accuracy for gaining an initial understanding of environmental change over time for internal business purposes.

Choosing a method is up to you, but it should be of a high enough accuracy level to meet your intended purpose.

Method Environmental Asset Classes.

  • Vegetation

    Vegetation assets are the unique native vegetation communities that comprise an area.

  • Soil & Sediment

    Soil assets refer to the different soil orders or types that comprise an area.

  • Fauna

    Native Fauna assets can be any type of fauna, from an individual species, to a group of species, or all fauna.

  • Water

    Water assets can include Freshwater or Marine assets. Such as rivers, lakes, dams, and the catchments that feed into them or any environmental asset that exists in the Marine Realm.

  • Ecosystem

    Ecosystem assets are any environmental asset that exists within an ecosystem.

  • Microorganism

    Microorganism asset is any environmental assets that exists within this category, such as fungi and bacteria.

Are methods free to use?

Accounting for Nature acknowledges the significant amount of work that users often put into developing an Accredited Method. The Method Manager may elect to require a one-time license fee be paid for the use of their method in a registered Environmental Account. The payment of license fees helps a party to recover the costs of method development, including its review by the Independent Science Committee.

Methods that require a license fee are marked as “Fee Required”. Methods that are free to use are marked as “open” in the Accredited Method Catalogue.

Method development.

There are six key stages in the development and approval of an Accredited Method.

To find out more on how to develop a method, check out our Method Rules and our Method Development Training Module.

These resources provide high-level guidance on the process and key considerations for developing a new method under the Accounting for Nature® Framework.

  • Method Authors are required to notify us of their intention to develop a new Method. Please complete the Method Notification Form to inform us about your Method.

  • Methods in this stage are in development.

  • The Technical Review is designed to ensure the Method meets the administrative requirements as defined by the Accounting for Nature® Standard and the Rules outlined in this document. A Technical Review must be successfully completed prior to submission to the ISC for scientific review.

  • The Independent Science Committee (ISC) review the Draft Method. The Science Committee will either recommend the Method for Accreditation by Accounting for Nature®, or provide detailed feedback for a resubmission. Please see our Fee Schedule for fees associated with Method review and accreditation.

  • Once a Method has been recommended by the ISC to be Accredited, we will work with the Method Author to ‘finalise’ the Method.

  • Once the Method has been finalised it is formally accredited and published in our Method Catalogue.

Ready to start a new method?

It’s time to notify Accounting for Nature®. Please complete our Method Notification Form to start your method development.

Have a method idea?

At Accounting for Nature, we understand that every environmental context is unique, and sometimes, the method you're looking for might not exist yet. If you have specific requirements or innovative ideas, developing your own method can be a rewarding and impactful process.

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