Ecosystem services are fundamental to the development of sustainable landscapes but are largely ignored or taken for granted in land management strategies. Ecosystems, and the ecological processes that define them, form the natural infrastructure supporting human activities to enhance the economic and social well-being of communities. This chapter draws upon results from across the IAI research network and associated programs to review our current knowledge of ecosystem processes that should be considered when making decisions on designing areas for protection in cultural or highly-intervened landscapes. Taking ecosystem services into consideration will help decision-makers identify the different components of a landscape that are providing essential services and which should be preserved within a sustainable landscape development plan.
