The core of the East Suffolk Catchments Plan is a series of maps which describe the catchments in terms of the ecosystem services they provide, such as flood attenuation, water purification and green spaces. The maps also show where pressures are acting on these ecosystems and identify ‘opportunity areas’ where improvement projects are likely to be most beneficial. The maps were produced by identifying the features in the landscape responsible for providing an ecosystem service (e.g. designated sites provide habitats for wildlife) and then assessing the current condition of the ecosystem and its ability to provide the service in question. Maps were produced for: water quality; flood attenuation; wildlife habitat creation; carbon regulation; and recreational opportunities. The Plan goes on to summarise the Catchment Improvement Measures (follow-on projects) to be implemented in East Suffolk, to maximise ecosystem service benefits and help meet Suffolk’s Water Framework Directive (WFD) obligations.