Ecosystem service accounts require quantifying the contribution of ecosystems to the society. However, estimation of the ecosystem service used (actual flow) remains still very challenging for regulating services. We developed an experimental ecosystem service account for flood control delivered by ecosystems including: 1) Biophysical modelling of ecosystem service potential, demand and actual flow. 2) Translation of the actual flow in monetary terms. 3) Compilation of accounting tables. Ultimately, we analysed changes in flood control between 2006 and 2012.

The value of flood control delivered by ecosystems in 2012 is estimated at about 16 billion euro. This value increased by 1.14% between 2006 and 2012. This increase is mainly due to the sprawl of artificial areas into floodplains that benefit from flood control delivered by ecosystems. However, the role of natural capital to control floods is slightly decreasing. This is confirmed by the increase of artificial areas not protected by ecosystems (+1.9%, unmet demand). The role of natural capital to control floods could be enhanced by restoring ecosystems upstream from this unmet demand and increase the ecosystems contribution to human well-being. The methodology makes a significant contribution to the assessment of ecosystem services flow and the accounting framework.

生态系统服务账户需要量化生态系统对社会的贡献。然而，对所使用的生态系统服务（实际流量）的估计对于调节服务仍然非常具有挑战性。我们开发了一个由生态系统提供的防洪实验生态系统服务账户，包括：1）生态系统服务潜力、需求和实际流量的生物物理建模。 2) 将实际流量换算为货币形式。 3）会计报表的编制。最后，我们分析了2006年至2012年防洪的变化。

2012 年生态系统提供的防洪价值估计约为 160 亿欧元。 2006 年至 2012 年间，该值增加了 1.14%。这一增加主要是由于人工区域向洪泛区蔓延，受益于生态系统的防洪。但自然资本防洪作用略有减弱。不受生态系统保护的人工区域的增加证实了这一点（+1.9%，未满足的需求）。通过恢复上游未满足需求的生态系统，可以增强自然资本控制洪水的作用，并增加生态系统对人类福祉的贡献。该方法对生态系统服务流的评估和核算框架做出了重大贡献。