Assessing the ecological services of aquatic environments. Scientific, political and operational issues

In a context of climate change and biodiversity loss, the notion of ecological services has rapidly gained ground in political debates. The goal of good ecological status, set by the European water framework directive in 2000, has led to major efforts to preserve and restore aquatic environments. The ecological services provided by aquatic environments are now a topic of growing interest to water managers and, more generally, to all stakeholders in society interested in the quality and sustainable management of aquatic environments.

Table of content

Analytical summary

• The key issues and their acknowledgement
• Analysis of the concepts relating to service assessment
• Economic valuation of services

Assessement of ecological services vis-à-vis the challenges of water policy

• Introduction
• Key issues
• Consideration of ecological services in public policies
• Conclusion

Analysis of the concepts associated with service assessment

• Introduction
• What object for analysis?
• Services, functions, benefits: clarification of the concepts
• Summary

The economic valuation of ecological services

• Introduction
• The notion of ecological services:nature as a unit of stocks and flows
• From the natural capital to the services provided
• Well-being services
• Collective environmental responsibility systems
• Scope for ecological service valuation
• Assessment types
• Economic valuation of services
• "Opportunity cost" approach
• Conclusion