Supporting services are ecosystem services that indirectly benefit human well-being by supporting the production of other ecosystem services, such as provisioning, regulating, and cultural services.

Food production is a provisioning service, not a supporting service. Supporting services are the underlying processes that make it possible for provisioning, regulating, and cultural services to exist.

Supporting services contribute to cultural values in a number of ways, including by providing the resources that people use to create cultural artifacts, by supporting the ecosystems that people value for their beauty and inspiration, and by providing the opportunities for people to experience nature and connect with the environment.

All of the above are examples of cultural values that are supported by supporting services. The beauty of a mountain range is supported by the supporting services of soil formation and water cycling, which create the conditions for the growth of forests and other vegetation. The inspiration that people get from nature is supported by the supporting service of biodiversity, which provides a variety of plants and animals that people can observe and learn from. The opportunity to experience nature is supported by the supporting services of water cycling and climate regulation, which create the conditions for a variety of ecosystems that people can visit and enjoy.

Supporting services contribute to aesthetic values in a number of ways, including by providing the resources that people use to create art, by supporting the ecosystems that people value for their beauty, and by providing the opportunities for people to experience nature and connect with the environment.

All of the above are examples of aesthetic values that are supported by supporting services. The beauty of a painting is supported by the supporting service of soil formation, which provides the clay that is used to make paint. The beauty of a natural landscape is supported by the supporting services of water cycling and climate regulation, which create the conditions for a variety of ecosystems that people can visit and enjoy. The beauty of a piece of music is supported by the supporting service of biodiversity, which provides a variety of sounds that composers can use to create music.

Climate change, pollution, and habitat loss are all challenges to maintaining supporting services. Climate change can disrupt the water cycle and lead to changes in soil conditions, which can affect the ability of ecosystems to provide supporting services. Pollution can contaminate soil and water, which can harm the plants and animals that provide supporting services. Habitat loss can reduce the amount of land available for ecosystems to provide supporting services.

Reducing climate change, reducing pollution, and protecting habitats are all important ways to protect supporting services. Reducing climate change can help to stabilize the water cycle and soil conditions, which will help to ensure that ecosystems can continue to provide supporting services. Reducing pollution can help to protect the plants and animals that provide supporting services. Protecting habitats can help to ensure that there is enough land available for ecosystems to provide supporting services.

Supporting services are essential for the functioning of ecosystems, they provide a number of benefits to human well-being, and they are threatened by a number of human activities. Protecting supporting services is important for ensuring the long-term health of ecosystems and the benefits that they provide to people.

Soil formation, water cycling, and climate regulation are all supporting services that are important for cultural and aesthetic values. Soil formation provides the resources that people use to create art, such as clay and pigments. Water cycling creates the conditions for a variety of ecosystems that people can visit and enjoy, such as forests, lakes, and rivers. Climate regulation creates the conditions for a variety of plant and animal life, which people can observe and learn from.

Supporting services contribute to the sense of place in a number of ways, including by providing the resources that people use to create cultural artifacts, by supporting the ecosystems that people value for their beauty and inspiration, and by providing the opportunities for people to experience nature and connect with the environment.

Climate change, pollution, and habitat loss are all challenges to maintaining the cultural and aesthetic values of supporting services. Climate change can disrupt the water cycle and lead to changes in soil conditions, which can affect the ability of ecosystems to provide supporting services. Pollution can contaminate soil and water, which can harm the plants and animals that provide supporting services. Habitat loss can reduce the amount of land available for ecosystems to provide supporting services.

Reducing climate change, reducing pollution, and protecting habitats are all important ways to protect the cultural and aesthetic values of supporting services. Reducing climate change can help to stabilize the water cycle and soil conditions, which will help to ensure that ecosystems can continue to provide supporting services. Reducing pollution can help to protect the plants and animals that provide supporting services. Protecting habitats can help to ensure that there is enough land available for ecosystems to provide supporting services.

Cultural and aesthetic values are important for human well-being, supporting services provide a number of cultural and aesthetic benefits to people, and cultural and aesthetic values are threatened by a number of human activities. Protecting the cultural and aesthetic values of supporting services is important for ensuring the long-term health of ecosystems and the benefits that they provide to people.