The role of marine ecosystem services for human well-being: Disentangling synergies and trade-offs at multiple scales

With the advance of ecosystem services (ES) assessments, the existence of synergies and trade-offs between services became clear. However, identifying these conflicts and potentials correctly and estimating the impacts of simultaneous use or of favoring one service to the detriment of the other is not a simple task. Among marine ecosystem services, the challenge is probably larger, given the invisible nature of some of the resources and services provided, and the fact that we do not have full control over such a huge habitat. In this Special Section we attempt to discuss some of these synergies and trade-offs at different geographical scales, from local case studies to multiple ecosystem assessments, and from cultural to provisioning ES. Along twelve papers, different frameworks, theoretical approaches and statistical tools are developed to show the state-of-the-art in ES assessment in developed and developing countries. Together, these studies bring a new diagnosis at local scales, where marine protected areas can or not interact synergistically with other services, such as fishing and tourism, depending on the institutional strength and proper development of social capital. Overall, this special issue presents multiple recommendations that can redirect policy-making regarding the best use of ES around the globe.