Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Cancer
    • Chemicals, Toxics, and Pesticide
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Radon
    • Research
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Ecosystems Research

National Ecosystem Services Classification System: Framework Design and Policy Application

Understanding the ways in which ecosystems provide flows of “services” to humans is critical for decision making in many contexts; however, the linkages between natural and human systems are complex and multifaceted. A well-defined framework for classifying ecosystem services is essential for systematically identifying and tracing these linkages. The purpose of this report is to describe the National Ecosystem Services Classification System (NESCS), which is designed to address these needs.

The main objective of NESCS is to provide a framework that will aid in analyzing the human welfare impacts of policy-induced changes to ecosystems. In particular, it is intended to support different types of policy impact analyses, such as cost-benefit analysis of environmental regulations. Measuring the welfare impacts of alternative environmental policy or natural resource management scenarios typically entails three main steps: identifying, quantifying, and (as feasible) valuing changes in ecosystems and their contributions to human well-being. NESCS is primarily designed to support the first step—identifying ecosystem service changes—and thus provides a foundation for the subsequent steps of quantification and valuation. It is not an accounting system, but it is designed to support comprehensive and systematic accounting of changes in ecosystem services. NESCS could also potentially be used to support analysis of other policies that could result in changes to ecosystems such as housing, transportation, and tax policies.

  • National Ecosystem Services Classification System (NESCS): Framework Design and Policy Application (pdf) (4.88 MB)

Related Information

Interested in the application of ecosystem services classification? The EPA-developed National Ecosystems Classification System-Plus (NESCS Plus) is a robust, step-by-step resource for tracing the links between natural ecosystems and human well-being. Learn more at National Ecosystem Services Classification System (NESCS)-Plus.

Ecosystems Research

  • Ecosystem Services
  • Ecosystems and Water Quality
  • Ecosystems & Air Quality
  • Ecological Risk Assessment
  • Ecosystem-related Tools & Resources
  • Ecosystem Research Publications
Contact Us about Ecosystems Research
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on November 8, 2024
  • Assistance
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Chinese (simplified)
  • Chinese (traditional)
  • French
  • Haitian Creole
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions
  • Site Feedback

Follow.

Environmental Protection Agency logo
www.epa.gov Feedback Survey

Welcome! Please share your feedback on how we can make www.epa.gov work better for you.

A red asterisk (*) indicates a required field.

Success

Thank you. Your feedback has been received.

Error

alert message

Required Questions - page 1 of 2
question_55203_answer_01
*

400 characters allowed
Would you like to take two more minutes to answer more questions to help us improve our services?
Yes, keep going →
← Back
Optional questions - page 2 of 2
How would you describe yourself?
400 characters allowed
400 characters allowed
400 characters allowed
U.S. flag

An official form of the United States government. Provided by Touchpoints
OMB Approval #1090-0008 · Expiration Date 11/30/2027