facilitating water infiltration and retaining soil moisture [1], [3], [28], [34], [37], [51]

facilitating soil aeration [51]

capturing dust and other air pollution [18]

increasing soil nutrient availability and cycling [25], [29], [33], [18], [51], [17]

increasing soil organic matter content [28], [32], [33], [35], [18], [51], [17], [10]

improving soil structure like porosity and aggregate stability [28], [51]

stimulating soil microbial diversity and activity [35], [51], [10]

reducing nutrient leaching [58], [36]

filtering contaminants and nutrients from runoff [26], [29], [31], [34], [18], [3]

reducing light and noise pollution

preventing soil erosion from water and wind [29], [33], [37], [3]

moderating microclimates [27], [35], [38], [48], [3]

protecting crops from extreme weather like snow, wind, and flooding [2], [2], [39], [28]

enhancing pollination and seed dispersal [28]

controlling for pests, diseases, and weeds [25], [28], [29]

reducing fire risk [1]

providing wildlife habitat and connectivity [1], [3]

maintaining genetic and ecological biodiversity [28], [29], [32], [33], [34], [35], [18], [46]

reducing habitat conversion and loss [12], [13]

restoring degraded ecosystems [30], [2]

improving aesthetics [30]