ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AND SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: A LEGAL ANALYSIS AND ITS RELEVANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between ecosystem services and socio-environmental justice, exploring the conceptual evolution, legal challenges, and opportunities for sustainable development. The concept of ecosystem services, introduced in the scientific literature in the 1980s, gained prominence in the 1990s by integrating biodiversity conservation with economic and social considerations. In the Brazilian context, Law No. 14,119/2021, which instituted the National Policy for Payment for Environmental Services (PNPSA), represents a milestone in legislation aimed at protecting and valuing ecosystem services. This study analyzes the historical evolution of the concept, its different classifications, and how legislation and public policies have incorporated these elements to promote socio-environmental equity.