Ecosystem services refer to the direct or indirect benefits humans obtain from ecosystems which support their survival and quality of life. The conceptual classification of ecosystem services into supporting, provisioning, regulating and cultural services is widely accepted and used as the main analytical framework for their assessment. Indeed, during the recent decades, ecosystem services were assessed in different spatial scales from local, regional, to global aiming at different goals, but sticking to the established classification. Using this framework an impressive quantity and quality of studies focused on what ecosystem services are, their reciprocal relations, and assessment efforts have been produced in the last years.
In this session we welcome contributions on the quantification and valuation of ecosystem services and the integration in natural resources management.