INTEGRATING ECOSYSTEM SERVICE ASSESSMENT AS A TOOL TO SUPPORT DECISION-MAKING IN THE FRAMEWORK OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Abstract

In the current legal system concerning the environmental legislation in Poland, environmental impact assessment (EIA) constitutes an essential tool for the protection of ecosystems. A report that is being prepared within EIA includes different methods to assess the impact of a given project on the environment. The combination of the currently used methods and ecosystem services
assessment may allow for a better understanding of the consequences of the environmental change. This article presents the theoretical framework of integrating the ecosystem services assessment into the EIA procedure and its use in a report on the environmental impact assessment of a given project.