Potential and limitations of Payments for Environmental Services (PES) as a means to manage watershed services in mainland Southeast Asia
2009
George, Alana | Pierret, Alain | Boonsaner, Arthorn | Valentin, Christian | Orange, Didier | Planchon, Olivier | Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement (IRD) ; Kasetsart University [Bangkok, Thailand] (KU) | International Water Management Institute - South East Asia (IWMI-SEA) ; International Water Management Institute [CGIAR, Sri Lanka] (IWMI) ; Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research [CGIAR] (CGIAR)-Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research [CGIAR] (CGIAR) | Soil Survey and Land Classification Center (SSLCC) ; Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry | Biogéochimie et écologie des milieux continentaux (Bioemco) ; École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS-PSL) ; Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL)-Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-AgroParisTech-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) | National Park, Wild Life and Plant Conservation Department (DNP) ; National Park Wild Life and Plant Conservation Department | Soils and Fertilizers Research Institute (SFRI) ; Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS) | Laboratoire d'étude des Interactions Sol - Agrosystème - Hydrosystème (UMR LISAH) ; Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro)
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Show more [+] Less [-]English. Based on two case studies conducted at local sites in Northern Thailand and Lao PDR, the objectives of this paper are (i) to assess whether conditions for the establishment of PES at the watershed level exist in the uplands of mainland SE Asia and (ii) to examine and discuss limitations that are likely to impinge on direct transfer of the PES concept as well as the institutional adaptations and support that are required for the successful implementation of PES markets in this regional context. The study's main findings are that: (i) acceptance of PES principles and constraints are directly related to stakeholders' perception of their land rights irrespective of their actual rights; (ii) willingness to pay (WTP) is very low among local stakeholders, making any PES market unlikely to emerge without external support; (iii) the classical scheme for watershed services hardly applies in its original form because environmental service (ES) providers and buyers are generally the same people; (iv) where potential ES buyers feel that ES providers are better-off or wealthier than them, they do not have any WTP for ES; (v) good governance, including a strong liaising at various levels between people and the authorities is a strong prerequisite for the successful establishment of PES markets, even without direct government funding.
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