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EU Guidance on Integrating Ecosystems and their
Services into Decision-Making
Summary for Policymakers in Government and Industry
Draft 2.0 – 9 August 2020
2 | Guidance on Ecosystem Services for Policy Makers – Draft 02_09.08.2020
I. Contents
I. Table of Contents …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2
II. Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
1. Chapter 1 – Introducing Ecosystem Services and their Benefits for Decision Makers……………… 4
1.1. Society’s dependence on ecosystem services …………………………………………………………………….. 4
1.2. Cost-effective solutions for critical challenges ……………………………………………………………………. 5
1.3. Sustaining the Flow of services through healthy ecosystems ……………………………………………… 5
1.4. Societal resilience through ecosystem resilience ……………………………………………………………….. 6
1.5. Varying visibility of ecosystem services ………………………………………………………………………………. 7
1.6. Objectives of this guidance document ……………………………………………………………………………….. 7
2. Chapter 2: The Eight Guiding Principles …………………………………………………………………………………. 8
2.1. Prioritise measures that improve ecosystem condition ……………………………………………………… 8
2.2. Address inter-dependencies and trade-offs of biodiversity and ecosystem services …………. 8
2.3. Apply ‘mitigation hierarchy’ to address negative impacts on ecosystems …………………………. 9
2.4. Apply precautionary principle …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9
2.5. Set long-term objectives and plans to secure ecosystem services ……………………………………… 10
2.6. Ensure adaptive management ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 10
2.7. Coordinate and integrate planning across sectors and levels …………………………………………….. 10
2.8. Enable stakeholder engagement ………………………………………………………………………………………… 10
3. Chapter 3: Implementation – 5 Steps for Effective Integration of Ecosystem Services ………… 12
3.1. Step 1: Set Purpose, Scope & Context for Integration ………………………………………………………… 12
3.2. Step 2: Screen and Prioritise Ecosystems and their Services ……………………………………………… 14
3.3. Step 3: Map, Assess & Value Ecosystems and their Services ……………………………………………… 15
3.4. Step 4: Integrate Knowledge & Values into Decisions ……………………………………………………….. 18
3.5. Step 5: Implement, Monitor & Review ……………………………………………………………………………… 19
III. Overall Summary …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 21
- What is in this Summary? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 21
- What is in the Full Guidance? …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 22
3 | Guidance on Ecosystem Services for Policy Makers – Draft 02_09.08.2020
II. Introduction
This is a summary document of the EU Guidance on Integrating Ecosystems and their Services into
Decision-Making, developed by the European Commission. It highlights the Guidance’s key points and
principles for integrating ecosystems and their services, making them accessible and beneficial for
decision-makers across different sectors.
Background
Our society and economy are strongly embedded in nature. This comprehensive guidance document
helps governments and businesses increase impact, reduce costs and ensure sustainability, by
integrating nature's services into policies and decisions.
Our quality of life and economic activities depend on ecosystems and their services. To support
decision-makers maximise social and economic benefits, this document provides guidance on how to
identify and integrate ecosystems and their services into policies, plans and investments.
Nature offers innovative, cost-effective and long-term solutions to Europe's biggest challenges.
Decision-makers across levels and sectors can harness these solutions by:
- Highlighting the socioeconomic benefits that flow from nature to people;
- Managing and enhancing ecosystems to sustain their diverse benefits;
- Assessing these benefits and integrating them into policy and planning.
Outline
Drawing on EU policy frameworks and driven by innovative science and research, this guidance
document is split into three chapters, each answering the following questions:
- Chapter 1 - What are the benefits of integrating ecosystems and their services into decision-
making across levels and sectors?
- Chapter 2 - What are the guiding principles for successful integration of ecosystems services into
decision-making?
- Chapter 3 - What are the five steps for successful integration?
Objectives
This document will summarise key information and guidance for decision-makers in government and
business. Chapters 1-3 aim to:
- Raise awareness on benefits and contributions of ecosystem services;
- Promote nature-based solutions for socioeconomic objectives;
- Support decision-makers engaging with nature;
- Promote holistic and fair solutions with engaged stakeholders.
4 | Guidance on Ecosystem Services for Policy Makers – Draft 02_09.08.2020
Chapter 1: Why Ecosystem Services?
Introducing Ecosystem Services and their Benefits for Decision Makers
This chapter highlights the benefits of integrating ecosystems and their services into decision-making.
Using examples and definitions, Chapter 1’s key messages include:
1.1. Society depends on ecosystem services.
1.2. Ecosystem services support cost-effective solutions.
1.3. Healthy ecosystems sustain more services.
1.4. Ecosystem resilience underpins societal resilience.
1.5. Many ecosystem services are less ‘visible’ than others.
1.1. Society depends on ecosystem services
What are ecosystem services?
Our societies and their economies are embedded in nature. An ‘ecosystem’ is a physical environment
made up of living and non-living components that interact with one another. From these interactions,
ecosystems create a flow of benefits to people and the economy called ‘ecosystem services’.
Ecosystem services provide Europe's supply of clean air, water, food and raw materials. They also help
regulate and maintain climate, air quality, water cycles, carbon emissions and agricultural
productivity. Yet, the value of these services is not properly accounted for in policies, planning and
market transactions.
Types of ecosystem services
Ecosystem services can be classified into three main categories:
i. Regulating & maintenance: services maintain the environment and regulate its processes (e.g.
pollination, decomposition of organic waste, pollution removal, water-cycle regulation, soil
formation).
ii. Provisioning: services include the production of tangible resources (e.g. crops, fish, wild plants
and animals, timber, water, and other natural materials).
iii. Cultural: services include the non-material benefits to people from nature (e.g. recreational,
intellectual and spiritual benefits of interacting with nature).
Maintenance Cultural
Soil formation Recreational,
water-cycling, intellectual, spiritual,
photosynthesis educational
Regulating Provisioning
Air quality, climate, Food, crops, fibre,
erosion, pollination timber, fuel,
freshwater, medicine
Figure 1 Types of Ecosystem Services – Adapted from EWA’s Diagram on Ecosystem Services
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