EU guidance on integrating ecosystems and their services into decision-making

There is great potential for businesses and policy-makers to better integrate ecosystems and their services into their decisions. This can create social and economic co-benefits from the protection, restoration and sustainable management of ecosystems.

This guidance document aims to help decision-makers who are seeking to improve the impact, costeffectiveness and sustainability of their policies, plans and investments. It does this by (i) highlighting the benefits that flow from nature to people and the need to protect and enhance the ecosystems that deliver these benefits, and (ii) providing an overview of the steps and available tools to assess and integrate these benefits into policy and planning decisions. The guidance is applicable to all ecosystems across EU landscapes and the marine environment (including artificial and semi-natural habitats that result from interactions with human activities, such as urban or agricultural ecosystems).