ISSP Sustainability Excellence Associate (SEA) Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The category of ecosystem services that includes food and water provision is provisioning services. Provisioning services are the products obtained from ecosystems that fulfill human needs and contribute directly to human well-being. This includes the provision of essential resources such as food, fresh water, timber, fiber, and genetic resources.

The significance of provisioning services lies in their direct impact on daily life and survival. For example, agricultural systems that produce crops and livestock contribute to food security, while freshwater ecosystems provide drinking water and support essential human activities. The sustainability of these services is critical, as overexploitation or degradation of ecosystems can impact their ability to continue providing these necessary resources.

In contrast, regulating services pertain to the benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes, like climate regulation and flood control. Cultural services relate to the non-material benefits people obtain from ecosystems through recreational, aesthetic, and spiritual experiences. Supporting services involve the necessary processes for the maintenance of other services, such as soil formation and nutrient cycling. These services are not directly consumed but are essential for the sustainability of provisioning services. Therefore, provisioning services are distinctly characterized by their direct contribution to providing food and water.