Regulating Services

Regulating services, unlike provisioning services, do not include services directly provided by nature, but rather the benefits derived from the results of natural processes (DKM, 2020). Regulating services are processes that particularly help maintain the balance of natural systems.

Regulating services can basically be listed as; air quality regulation, climate regulation (including C-sequestration), mitigation of the impact of disasters (extreme events), regulation of water flows, waste treatment, erosion prevention, maintenance of soil fertility, pollination, and biological control. 

Air Quality Regulation: Forests absorb carbon dioxide from the air, produce oxygen, and simultaneously filter pollutants. Urban forests play an important role in reducing air pollution in urban areas. 

 

 

Climate Regulation (Including Carbon Sequestration): Forests absorb carbon from the atmosphere and store it, thereby slowing down climate change. Especially large forested areas function as carbon sinks. 

 

 

Mitigation of Disaster Impacts: Forests mitigate the effects of floods, storms, and extreme weather events, reducing flood risk by helping water absorb into the soil during these processes. 

 

 

Regulation of Water Flows: Forest ecosystems enable water to naturally infiltrate the soil and replenish groundwater reserves. They also reduce flood risk by controlling surface runoff. 

 

 

Waste Treatment: Forest soils and vegetation improve water quality by filtering pollutants in the water. This process plays a critical role in protecting clean drinking water sources. 

 

 

Erosion Prevention: Tree roots hold the soil in place, preventing erosion, thereby contributing to the protection of natural habitats, agricultural lands, and settlements. 

 

 

Maintenance of Soil Fertility: Forests increase soil fertility by enriching the soil's organic matter content. This ensures the sustainability of both natural ecosystems and agricultural production. 

 

 

Pollination: Forests provide habitats for many pollinator species, supporting the reproduction of agricultural crops through these species. 

 

 

Biological Control: Predatory species in forests naturally control populations of harmful insects, maintaining ecosystem balance.