Ecosystem Services in Belgian Environmental Policy Making: Expectations and Challenges Linked to the Conceptualization and Valuation of Ecosystem Services

An ecosystem services (ES) approach seems to entail two different, but intertwined, mechanisms: (1) the adoption of the conceptual framework of ES, as a particular (instrumental) angle from which to analyze the linkages between people and the environment; and (2) the experimentation with a set of ES (e)valuation tools and instruments in order to reduce complexities through the adoption of economic/monetary values wherever suitable. This chapter explores both mechanisms-with respect to the conceptualization and to the valuation of ES-at the level of Belgian environmental policy making. © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.SCOPUS: ch.b