The ecosystem service approach and its application as a tool for integrated coastal management

Ecosystem services are the benefits that natural environments supply to human beings. Due to the immense diversity of ecosystems and objectives for which their services are being assessed, there are no standard methodologies for this type of evaluation. The high biodiversity and geodiversity of the coastal zone allow a wide range of services. However, deleterious impacts to the environment threaten the delivery of these services and, consequently, the human well-being they lead to. The coastal zone, with its multiple users and impacts, is a case in which an ecosystem-based approach would bring many benefits within the scope of an integrated coastal management strategy. By considering the ecosystem services supplied by the coastal zone, it is possible to make well-informed decisions. The objective of the present study was to carry out a revision on ecosystem services and their application within the context of coastal management.