Ecosystems do far more than supply raw materials. They also sustain the environmental conditions that allow societies to function safely and comfortably. These benefits—produced through biological activity and natural system dynamics—are known as regulation and maintenance ecosystem services. They describe how living organisms and ecosystems help manage the quality, stability, and balance of the environment people depend on, including comparable non-living (abiotic) processes where relevant.
Understanding Regulation and Maintenance Services
Regulation and maintenance services refer to the many ways ecosystems moderate environmental conditions that influence human health, security, and well-being. Unlike provisioning services (which deliver physical goods such as food or timber), these services operate mainly through ecological processes—often unnoticed—yet they are essential for stable living conditions.
Within widely used classifications of ecosystem services such as CICES, these services include functions that reduce harmful impacts (e.g., pollution or flooding) and processes that maintain environmental quality (e.g., air regulation or water purification). In other words, they reflect how ecosystems act as a protective and stabilizing system that supports human life and economic activity.
Common Examples of Regulation and Maintenance Services
Air Quality Regulation
Vegetation and soils contribute to cleaner air by capturing particles, absorbing pollutants, and influencing atmospheric chemistry. Urban trees and forested landscapes, for example, can help reduce exposure to harmful air contaminants, supporting respiratory health and overall well-being.
Climate Regulation and Carbon Storage
Ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, and oceans help regulate the climate by storing carbon and influencing temperature and rainfall patterns. These functions reduce the intensity of climate extremes and support long-term environmental stability.
Water Purification and Waste Processing
Wetlands, soils, and microorganisms naturally filter water by breaking down waste, trapping sediments, and transforming contaminants into less harmful forms. This improves water quality for households, agriculture, and industry, while lowering treatment costs and health risks.
Flood Regulation and Coastal Protection
Floodplains, wetlands, mangroves, and coral reefs reduce the destructive force of storms and flooding by absorbing water, slowing runoff, and buffering wave energy. These services protect infrastructure, reduce loss of life, and limit economic damage during extreme weather events.
Pollination and Biological Pest Control
Insects, birds, and other organisms support agriculture through pollination, enabling the production of fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Similarly, natural predators help regulate pest populations, reducing crop losses and decreasing dependence on chemical pesticides.
Disease Regulation
Healthy ecosystems can influence disease patterns by supporting balanced food webs and limiting the dominance of certain vectors or hosts. While ecosystem–disease relationships are complex, regulating services can contribute to lowering risks of outbreaks and supporting public health resilience.
Why Regulation and Maintenance Services Are Essential
These services are critical because they prevent environmental problems from becoming social and economic crises. By stabilizing climate conditions, maintaining clean air and water, supporting agricultural productivity through pollination, and reducing the severity of disasters, ecosystems provide a natural form of risk management.
They also deliver substantial economic value. When ecosystems regulate floods, filter water, or maintain soil stability, they reduce the need for expensive engineered infrastructure and emergency responses. This makes regulation and maintenance services central not only to sustainability, but also to public safety planning, urban development, and long-term economic resilience.
