The course addresses the environmental assessment and management of complex issues that have significant implications for human society and human activities. Four main learning objectives are proposed: 1) to analyze the broader implications of ecological processes for humanity, using major international directives and conventions as guidelines; 2) to study a series of ecological phenomena and biogeochemical processes that underpin key ecosystem services, emphasizing their quantitative aspects; 3) to assess the relevance of some of these processes at the local/regional scale; 4) to analyze general guidelines for the sustainable management of living natural resources.