Mekong - U.S. Partnership
With support from USAID, the Center for International Forestry Research recently published two working papers: “Motivations for Payments for Ecosystem Services in Laos: The Essential Alignment” and “A Review of the Legal and Policy Framework for the Payments for Ecosystem Services in Thailand.”
These working papers will serve to inform and promote discussions recognizing the non-tradable benefits of natural resources and thus serve to safeguard biodiversity resources. Both working papers examine how the payments for ecosystem services (PES) mechanism – an instrument for creating incentives for natural resources conservation in terms of demand and supply – can be effectively adopted. While both countries have schemes that resemble PES mechanisms, many of these schemes are missing elements that would qualify them as PES projects and have not yet been adapted to appropriately fit within the country context.
The two working papers examine and suggest the potential for successful application of PES for both private sector institutions and governments. For example, “Motivations for Payments for Ecosystem Services in Laos: The Essential Alignment” suggests that, based on general constraints of PES and social and economic philosophies within Laos, PES projects must focus on local projects that align with existing government policies.
Source: USAID/RDMA Regional Environment Office Weekly Update
