European perspective of ecosystem services and related policies

In this article, we focus on the importance of terrestrial ecosystems and the services they provide. European Union policies, contributing to the conservation and maintenance of ecosystem services in Europe are discussed and their current impacts briefly reviewed in the light of the main challenges that European ecosystems might face in the near future. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2013; 9: 231236. (c) 2013 SETAC