→ Ecosystem services are the ways that certain entities in nature benefit humans and the environment.

For example, trees carry out the ecosystem service of carbon sequestration.  Bees pollinate crops in order for them to bear a harvest.

Both Regenerative agriculture and no-till gardening play an important role in ecosystem services. Their role is due to certain ecological management practices that encourage ecosystem services.

Regenerative agriculture implements healthy soil management. This is one of the many ways that regenerative practices support ecosystem services.

However, there are a plethora of other connections between agriculture and ecosystem services.

In this Ecosystem Services guide, you’ll learn:

• The different types of Ecosystem Services
• How Ecosystem Services link to agricultural and gardening practices
• Ecosystem Service Examples
• What you can do to support your local ecosystem in your backyard

What are ecosystem services?

→ Ecosystem Services Definition: Ecosystem services are the benefits that the natural world gives to humans and the environment.

Ecosystem Services are grouped into four main types:

• Provisioning
• Cultural
• Regulating
• Supporting

1. Provisioning Ecosystem Services

Provisioning Ecosystem Services provide food items and raw materials to humans and animals. These provisions help humans and animals to have food, shelter, drink, and comfort.

Provisioning Ecosystem Services Examples:

• drinking water
• food
• habitat
• timber
• seasonings
• herbs for tea and other beverages
• willow branches for basketry
• fuel sources
• meat and fish
• fiber
• medicinal plants

(National Wildlife Federation)

→ Connection to regenerative farming and gardening:

Provision Services fuel humans in the form of calories, hydration, and warmth.

There are two ways that we can think of provisioning services. One way is through the lens of taking as much as we can, as fast as we can for economic gain.

The other lens is what I advocate for here: land stewardship. With regenerative practices, we can implement land management. This in turn ensures that the provisioning ecosystem services continue to thrive.

Regenerative practices create resilience in the surrounding ecosystems. This resilience helps habitats to provide clean water sources and food.

Here’s an overview of how regenerative gardening supports provisioning ecosystem services:

• Water sources: Organic practices prevent fertilizer and pesticide runoff from damaging water sources.
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• Water supply: Sustainable farming needs less watering to thrive. This conservation of water reduces the strain on the water supply.
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• Timber and fuel: Permaculture and agroforestry encourage coppicing. One of the major benefits of coppicing is that the same tree can provide many harvests. Coppicing provides repeated harvests of for fuel, timber, and fodder.
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• Habitat: Regenerative farmers understand the benefit of perennial plantings. Orchards and food forests within the landscape provide habitat for other animals.
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• Meat and Dairy: Regenerative farmers raise livestock with practices that support the environment. Conventional livestock often does the opposite and depletes the land.

2. Cultural Ecosystem Services

Cultural Ecosystem Services offer humans the opportunity for experiences and personal development.

Examples of cultural ecosystem services are:

• beauty
• a space for rest
• recreation
• tourism
• spiritual connection
• inspiration for poetry, photography, visual art, and songs
• traditional skills passed from generation to generation

(Ecology and Society Vol. 18 No.3)

→ Connection to regenerative farming and gardening: Cultural Services feed our spirits with beauty and inspiration, activity, and spirituality.

Regenerative gardening creates spaces in our own backyards for cultural and personal activities.

Examples of how regenerative gardening supports cultural ecosystem services:

• Beauty and inspiration: I know for myself, I am inspired every day by the beauty of my garden. The garden inspires a lot of my writing and artwork, and provides me with a space for rest and rejuvenation. I am sure other gardeners feel the same. With organic practices, I have no fear of sitting on the soil underneath my plants.
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• Recreation and tourism: According to The FAO, farms and surrounding landscapes are sources of recreation and tourism. Through this activity, they are also known to enhance mental health.
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• Landscape: The FAO includes the inspirational factor of agriculture for various art forms.
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• Cultural heritage: Additionally, many agricultural areas are recognized as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Sites. This distinction denotes where there is cultural and spiritual significance in cultivated landscapes.
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• Spirituality: Across the world, there is a parallel between agricultural rhythms and spiritual practices. holy days, and ceremonies.

3. Regulating Ecosystem Services

Regulating Ecosystem Services protect the environment and habitats from extremes or imbalance.

Regulating Ecosystem Services Examples:

• Cooler temperatures under the shade of a tall tree
• Carbon sequestration
• Cooler temperatures next to a flowing river
• Protection in the garden from pests by beneficial insects
• Air pollution regulation and better air quality
• Water purification from wetlands and natural systems
• Soil erosion prevention by the root systems of plants
• Radiation protection from the ozone layer

(A Global View of Regulatory Ecosystem Services)

→ Connection to regenerative farming and gardening:

Regulating Services are what is most shared as a benefit of regenerative agriculture.

Sustainable gardening and farming strives to benefit the environment as a whole. This allows habitats to be hospitable to humans, animals, plants, and fungi.

Here’s a overview of how regenerative gardening supports regulating ecosystem services:

• Carbon storage: No-till practices allow the soil to sequester carbon efficiently and effectively
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• Cooler temperatures: Regenerative agriculture and permaculture plants orchards, food forests, and other perennial systems. This makes areas of cooler temperatures for humans, livestock, and wildlife.
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• Pest control: Organic practices and diverse plantings invite beneficial insects to provide pest control.
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• Water purification: Organic practices do not pollute surrounding wetlands, rivers, and other water sources.
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• Prevent soil erosion: Regenerative practices such as mulching, cover crops, and perennial plantings prevent soil erosion

4. Supporting Ecosystem Services

Supporting Ecosystem Services help natural areas to offer provisions and environmental regulation.

Systems that support the entire macrocosm of the ecosystem include:

• Nutrient cycling
• Habitat
• Genetic diversity
• Pollination
• Photosynthesis
• Biodiversity

(FAO)

→ Connection to regenerative farming and gardening:

Supporting Services are what regenerative farmers look to elevate through soil management practices.

Supporting services are the foundation of what makes everything else work within agriculture and the environment as a whole.

Examples of how regenerative gardening supports cultural ecosystem services:

• Pollinators: Regenerative farmers and gardeners look to create habitat and food sources for pollinators
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• Photosynthesis: As Keith of Canadian Permaculture Legacy states, regenerative gardeners look to “maximize photosynthesis.” Photosynthesis increases when the soil is planted for as much of the year as possible. Photosynthesis in turn builds healthy soil through carbon storage.
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• Biodiversity: Regenerative farmers understand the importance of biodiversity. They avoid monocropping in order to host a diverse array of plants, animals and insects.
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• Nutrient cycling: The principle of nutrient cycling encourages regenerative farmers to create compost from well-decomposed manure. Manure enriches the soil with organic matter, and gives nutrients to plants. Other ways that regenerative gardeners can uplift nutrient cycling on their land include:

               - Mulching

                - crop and drop

                - composting plant residue

                - cover cropping

               - nitrogen fixing plants

Services Provided by Specific Ecosystems

Soil Ecosystem Services

Soil ecosystem services are quite remarkable. Soil is the second largest carbon sink on earth, after our water systems. Soil houses microbes and fungi who benefit plants, offering nutrients and disease protection. Soil is the home base for nutrient cycling to occur, and also offers water storage.

As this paper published in Geoderma states, soil is the foundation upon which we built civilization.

→ Connection to regenerative farming and gardening:

Regenerative farming and gardening prioritizes building healthy soil in every way. Regenerative ag promotes the management of healthy soil with these practices:

• Organic inputs allow the soil microbiome to thrive
• Mulching, cover cropping, and other practices enhance the soil nutrient cycle
• No-till farming maintains carbon storage. Not tilling also protects fungal networks from damage, and increases soil water retention
• Sustainable farming avoids polluting the land with toxic chemicals

Learn more about how soil health links to regenerative farming in my in-depth guide here.

Wetlands Ecosystem Services

According to the National Park Service, Wetlands act as a filtration system. Wetlands remove pollutants as water moves through them. In turn, the water that runs though wetlands transforms into a purified water source.

Wetlands also supply a regulating ecosystem service to help prevent floods. They act as a holding area for the water so that it doesn’t end up flooding other areas.

Greenhouse gases such as carbon are stored in wetlands. What's especially impressive about wetlands is that they sequester 10 times more carbon than rainforests. This is a huge help in helping to reduce the greenhouse effect

According to the United States Geological Survey, this is one of the many reasons why we should protect wetlands. Preservation of wetlands is also necessary because as they are destroyed, the carbon they stored releases into the atmosphere.

→ Connection to regenerative farming and gardening:

The Nature Conservancy highlights how regenerative agriculture supports wetlands with their report on the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

The application of synthetic fertilizers in conventional agriculture damagies the bay's habitat.

The Nature Conservancy promotes Regenerative Agriculture as a solution to the situation in the Chesapeake Bay. Regenerative agriculture uses organic fertilizers and also looks to reduce overall inputs. Cover crops and no-till practices decrease the amount of excess nutrients that get washed out. Natural buffers and filters that regenerative agriculture implements help to filter out water pollutants before they arrive in the watershed.

Forests Ecosystem Services

Forests are often what people think of when carbon sequestration is mentioned. It’s no wonder. According to the World Resources Institute, forests absorb 7.6 billion metric tonnes of CO2 yearly. This global carbon sink stores 1.5 times as much carbon as the United States produces annually!

Forests are a focus of society as we seek nature-based solutions to climate change.

An ecosystem service of forests that fuels the economy and our homes is its production of timber and firewood. Forests also provide fiber, paper, and furniture products.

Trees help purify the air to offer another regulating ecosystem service. Trees have the capacity to absorb pollutants and release oxygen, which helps the air to be cleaner.

→ Connection to regenerative farming and gardening:

Regenerative farming and permaculture encourage forest systems within agriculture and gardening. These forest systems, although human-made, offer similar ecosystem services to natural forests.

A report from 2018 states “when incorporating forests and trees within a…natural resource management strategy, there is potential to maintain, and in some cases, enhance yields comparable to solely monoculture systems.”

The same report says that agricultural forest systems offer economic gain to rural farmers. The forest system is more resilient to climate extremes then conventional monoculture.

When regenerative farmers maintain forests, they nurture a system where the following ecosystem services can occur:

• nutrient cycling
• soil health
• temperature regulation
• water filtration
• provide habitat
• biodiversity
• pest control
• pollination

Coral reefs Ecosystem Services

Coral reefs contribute a protective ecosystem service for coastlines. The coral reefs are like a natural wall that prevents storm surges from reaching coastlines. With less storm surges, there is less coastal land erosion.

Coral reefs also sequester carbon.

→ Connection to regenerative farming and gardening:

In 2021, The Australian Circular Economy Hub launched a project to help coral reefs. They call on farms to use sustainable practices that support the Great Barrier Reef.

Regenerative agriculture is a nature-based solution to coral reef destruction because:

• Regenerative farming has less nutrient run-off. Nutrient run-off is a leading cause of coral damage.
• Regenerative farming relies on beneficial insects to help with pest control. This solves a problem instead of relying on pesticides. A decrease in pesticide runoff would also support the Great Barrier Reef.
• Regenerative farming prevents soil erosion, which decreases the amount of sediment that ends up in the ocean.
• The ACEH states that conventional agriculture leads to algal blooms, heat damage in coral, and starfish outbreaks. The Crown-of-Thorns Starfish contributes to coral reef damage.

In an interview with Project Coordinator Ross Neivandt, he says this is “the only grower-led project of its kind in the industry” and that the project is “a significant contributor to improving water quality on a global scale.”  Neivandt reports that in 2020 the project reduced sediment levels by 6,751 tonnes. Pesticide runoff decreased 7,628 grams, and Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen by 39 tonnes!

Biodiversity Ecosystem Services

Biodiversity has benefits across the spectrum of ecosystems sizes. Biodiversity in the soil, with plant life, and with animal population helps ecosystems to thrive.

Biodiversity makes our ecosystem resilient while capturing carbon at the same time.

According to Project Drawdown, “A complex habitat structure supports more species and stores more carbon at a greater rate. Protecting, restoring, and enhancing biodiversity on managed lands all enhance sinks.”

The United Nations lists biodiversity as the number one solution to climate change.

On a botanical level, more diverse plantings help to increase photosynthesis, which in turn captures carbon in the soil (CSU).

Beneficial insects and

→ Connection to regenerative farming and gardening:

Regenerative agriculture encourages beneficial insect habitat, companion planting, and crop rotation for a biodiverse landscape.

Pest control provided by animal and insect biodiversity means that less pesticides are needed.

Soil health management practices create biodiversity in soil microorganism populations.

There’s a reciprocal relationship between not using organic inputs and crop resilience. Biodiversity is the bond of this relationship. Synthetic fertilizers and pesticides contribute to climate change. Additionally, they decrease the diversity of your garden from a soil level up to an animal level. Then, because of the diversity, less fertilizers and pesticides are needed.

Mangroves Ecosystem Services

The Mangrove Action Project lists prevention of soil erosion, protection from storms, and water filtration as the top environmental contributions of mangroves.

Furthermore, a paper published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health cites that mangroves are the location where many fish species breed and raise their young. Mangroves participate in the carbon and nutrient cycles, which provide supporting ecosystem services.

→ Connection to regenerative farming and gardening:

Unfortunately, mangrove habitat has decreased due to conventional fertilizers and pesticides. These chemicals cause the mangroves to die.

Regenerative agriculture depends on organic inputs which are less harmful.

Conventional farming relies in certain locations rely on mangrove water for irrigation. On the other hand, sustainable agriculture implements different practices to reduce the need for irrigation.

Ecosystem services provided by different animals:

Bees

Pollination is an essential ecosystem service that supplies society with the production of crops. The food landscape would look very sparse if it weren’t for bees.

According to FAO, pollinators support 35% of global crop plants. With those plants, pollinators provide a whopping 75% increase in harvests.

Support bees by providing a safe and diverse habitat. Learn the essentials of bee gardening here.

→ Connection to regenerative farming and gardening:

Regenerative farming and gardening creates habitats and food sources for bees and other pollinators.

Furthermore, less chemicals are applied that are toxic to bees.

Beneficial Insects

Insects that deliver pest control are known as beneficial insects. Typically, beneficial insects do not harm crops. Instead, they eat crop pests and in turn increase yield of harvest.

→ Connection to regenerative farming and gardening:

Regenerative farming and gardening encourages and values beneficial insects with organic no-till practices. Beneficial animals offer pest control, which means less over-all input on regenerative farms.

Grazing animals

In the wild, grazing animals naturally practice pasture rotation. This means that their grazing habits are less damaging to landscapes. However, it is interesting to note that certain landscapes are shaped by grazing animals. The FAO shares that “many landscapes are a result of a co-evolution of nature and low intensity livestock grazing.”

→ Connection to regenerative farming and gardening:

Regenerative farms, ranches, and homesteads practice pasture rotation for their livestock. This reduces the carbon footprint of the animals and preserves the surrounding ecosystem.

Fish

Fish provide a food source for humans and other animals alike.

Fish also offer a cultural service, attracting tourists who travel to locations to fish. Tourists may also visit certain areas to see fish spawning and migration.

→ Connection to regenerative farming and gardening:

Regenerative farming and gardening contributes less to water pollution that harms fish populations. Since water conservation is also an inherent component of regenerative agriculture, water can stay in its natural ecosystem instead of being drawn for irrigation purposes.

Why are Ecosystem Services important?

Ecosystem services allow life as we know it to function, survive and thrive.

A world without ecosystem services would be difficult for humans, animals, and plants.

It’s interesting to note how ecosystem services affect humans, and how humans impact the ecosystem.

Humans depend on essential ecosystem services to survive. These systems also go one step further and supply humans with an economy.

The sense of “owning” land and “selling” trees for timber is strange when you think about it.

While a pack of wolves might be territorial, they do not charge rent to the birds who nest in nearby trees. The owl does not pay a fee to hunt mice in a field. A sunflower does not tax the bees who feed on its pollen.

Many beneficial relationships exist in the natural world where exchanges happen between species. However, there is a distinction between a system of trading value and selling value.

It’s important to note that Indigenous Americans did not see land as something that could be bought or sold. In Europe, there was “common” land that the people and livestock of a community shared. “Commoners” could hunt, forage, and let their livestock graze in these spaces.

In our current society, these provisions are often purchased. In another time, we would foraged, grown, and gathered these items.

For example, we may:

• buy berries instead of foraging for them in the woods
• purchase seasonings at the store instead of growing our own herbs
• buy heating oil for our homes instead of coppicing trees to produce warmth in a wood stove
• order containers online instead of making our own with willow branches

With the societal commodification of ecology, human activities threaten ecosystem services. Deforestation, air pollution, water pollution, over-harvesting, extinction, and climate change all have correlations with economic gain.

At the same time, the art of wildcrafting, foraging, and other traditional skills. These cultural knowledge skills are also in danger of becoming lost.

Ironically, economic gain cannot continue to grow if we don't address the ecological issues at hand.

A global effort to preserve ecosystem services is essential for society to continue.

Before you go...

One action step you can take to support ecosystem services is to plant a bee garden. Read up on bee gardening with our detailed knowledge base.