Drivers of the ecosystem services approach in Poland and perception by practitioners

The uptake of the Ecosystem Services (ES) Approach in Poland with emphasis on the drivers stimulating the research and activity of the authorities, as well as the perception of this approach by the practitioners, are presented in this paper. The study focused on the identification of the stimulus for the activities concerning mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services (MAES). The survey carried out among practitioners allowed to define the main challenges for ES implementation. Two pairs of dichotomic drivers of the MAES process in Poland have been identified: scientific and administrative, as well as international and national. With regard to science, the most important drivers were found to be large international research projects. The inclusion of the ES approach in strategic documents of the European Union was of mobilising importance for the administration. Currently, there is no wider interest in the ES approach at a regional and local level. The results of the survey showed that there is a deficit in knowledge on the practical way of using this approach. In general, it may be said that there is a large potential for the development of ES applications in Poland. Activating it depends on political decisions.