Conclusions of the International Congress on Ecosystem Services in the Neotropics: State of the art and future challenges

Abstract

The purpose of this scientific meeting was to analyse the state of the art and identify the main achievements, challenges and recommendations with respect to the services that the different ecosystems provide to the human welfare in the Neotropics. In this paper, we present the main conclusions indicated by a panel formed by researchers and students. One of the principal achievements was that the transdisciplinary approach enabled a better understanding of the ecosystem services, which led to obtain a common concept among the countries represented in the congress. The launch of the Latin American Network of Ecosystem Services during the event, confirmed this achievement. For the future, the panel identified the challenge of moving from the dialogue to the action regarding the maintenance and restoration of the ecosystem services in Latin America and The Caribbean. The panel also recommended to increase the knowledge, interest and involvement of the society (citizenship, government, industrial sector, NGOs) in the topic of the ecosystem services.