ECOSYSTEMS SERVICES IN LAKES - CLASSIFICATION, VALUATION, APPLICATIONS

The concept of ecosystem services has recently gained relatively a lot attention in the academic debates. The concept is derived from the ecological economics discipline. Thus it combines ecological implications and economic approach. The ecosystem services may be perceived as a different approach to the notion of natural capital which is one of the capitals sustainable development paradigm is based on. Ecosystem services' best known definition provided by Millennium Ecosystem Assessment ( MA) is the benefits people obtain from ecosystems. In 2005 the MA researchers divided ecosystem services into supporting, regulating, provisioning and cultural. On the basis of MA and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's reports, the classification of the ecosystem services in lakes has been delivered along with the valuation method proposal and implementation strategies.