Why does 'good ecological status' matter?

Achievement of good ecological status under the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), and various environmental outcomes under other legislation and strategies, are accepted as important by environmental interests. However, support from the wider public may be largely altruistic. Ecosystem services can better relate ecosystem health to societal benefits, helping communicate the advantages of achieving good status and securing support for environmental priorities. A series of ecosystem services case studies provides lessons about promoting public understanding of the benefits of achieving environmental targets. Framing desired WFD goals in terms of ecosystem service outcomes can optimise societal benefits proved by programmes of measures and avert unintended consequences, compared with traditional, discipline-specific management approaches. It can also highlight potential contributions from ecosystem-based technologies to achieving multiple benefits across ecosystem service categories. Siloed institutions and budgets are likely to perpetuate fragmented approaches unless explicit measures are taken to achieve more systemic outcomes.