With the arrival of the term “ecosystem services” in policy discussions and then in positive law has changed the legal categorization of spaces and species.

First, the attractive effect of ecosystem services, including in law, is or will not be without consequence on the place reserved for the legal protection of species. The legal consideration of ecosystem services will not be neutral with respect to species: it will be complementary to it, by addressing species that do not benefit legal protection as such. It can also create tensions by competing in a certain way, legal devices hitherto reserved for species. It can also create tensions by competing in a certain way, legal devices up to now reserved for species.

Secondly, the territorial scope of the law cannot be indifferent to the legal consideration of ecosystem services. In fact, on the one hand, ecosystem services allow an opening to ordinary biodiversity; new areas of legal protection are and can be created. On the other hand, to the extent that ecosystem services are intended to create a bridge between nature and society, putting into perspective socio-ecosystems could also influence the determination of biodiversity conservation areas.