ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES; LESSONS FROM THE ANDES CPWF?

J.RUBIANO (J.RUBIANO@GMAIL.COM) AND K. PALLARISCONDESAN CONSULTANTS

INTRODUCTION

CPWF supported a number of research projects in different themes that emerged in parallel with the efforts to implement Environmental Services by the GTZ-CAP.

Targeted a range of different basins in the Andes, including Central America and many other in the World.

Lessons presented here derive from projects PN15 (Quesungual), PN20 (SCALES) and PN22 (ENV. SERV.) but other projects in the region will be incorporated.

OBJECTIVES

Among several of the questions raised in a synthesis of project findings, we would like to know: What are the lessons to be learnt from

the CPWF funded projects on Environmental Services

What do these tell us about the potential to scale-up and introduce PES programs in the region and elsewhere.

FRAMEWORKS USED

Kattomba Group guide on implementation of PES schemes.

http://www.katoombagroup.org/documents/publications/GettingStarted.pdf

The Bellagio recommendations on water related environmental services.

http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/Publications/Detail?pid=2553

CARE’s WWF & IIED “Business Case” Framework Approach

http://www.fao.org/es/ESA/pesal/PESmaterials1.html

KEY COMPONENTS ADDRESSED BY THESE FRAMEWORKS

In summary key themes include: 1. Livelihood Assessment2. Biophysical analysis3. Legal context4. Buyer/Seller profiles5. Cost Benefit/Economics6. Monitoring and Regulation *

WARNING QUESTIONS

Is the framework for assessing the feasibility for PES to help design its implementation easy to apply and repeatable

Can the metrics that determine success be quantified?

Is the complexity and diversity in assessment criteria a constraint to using a synthesized framework?

SOURCE DOCUMENTATION FOR THE SYNTHESIS Quintero, M.; Estrada, R.D. Pago por servicios ambientales en

Latinoamérica y sus perspectivas en los Andes. Agosto 2006 Diaz, A. M.; Estrada, R. D. Un mecanismo para promover desarrollo rural en

los Andes (PN22). Octubre 2006. Castro, A. et al. Improving the efficiency of rainwater use in small

holder farms in sub-humid tropics; agricultural and environmental benefits of Quesungual agro forestry system.

PN 20 - Sustaining inclusive Collective Action that Links across Economic and Ecological Scales in upper watersheds (SCALES)

Asquith, N.M.; Wunder, S.; eds. Payments for watershed services: the Bellagio conversations Fundación Natura Bolivia, Santa Cruz, Bolivia. 2008

Lopa, D.M.; Ellis-Jones, M. Equitable payments for watershed services; feasibility study methodology “a business case approach”. WWF-CARE February 2008.

Wunder, S. CIFOR Occasional Paper No. 42. Payments for environmental services: Some nuts and bolts. 2005.

The Katoomba Group, UNEP; Payments for ecosystem services; getting started: A Primer. May 2008

Rivera P, Mariela. 2008. Determinación De La Dinámica Del Agua En El Sistema Agroforestal Quesungual E Identificación De Factores Suelo-Planta Para El Mejoramiento De La Productividad Del Agua En Los Cultivos. PhD Tesis (draft)

QUICK SUMMARY

PN15

PN20

PN22

Livelihood Assessment

Biophysical Analysis

Legal Context

Buyer Seller Profiles

Cost Benefit

High Contribution

LowContribution

INITIAL FINDINGS & CONCLUSIONS

CPWF projects did not set out to implement a PES according to any framework but contributed key findings around each framework component

PN15 LESSONS & POTENTIAL

Niche land management approach with potential to becoming a paying service

The scientific evidence linked the potential service to improvements resulting in word of mouth spread

Lesson, important it is to establish the biophysical assessment as a first step for carrying out PES feasibility

PN20 LESSONS AND POTENTIAL

Contributed greatest by illustrating their approach to livelihood assessment and institutional legal framework assessments. Is there potential for these to become embedded PES user guide toolkits?

Lessons, showed that it is not only important to make the initial assessment or to trigger engagement, but to find ways to sustain that engagement, either through continued funding or through the presented 6th operating principle.

PN22 LESSONS AND POTENTIAL

Great contribution in quantification and valuation of services by means of a wide range of biophysical and socioeconomic models (e.g. SWAT, ECOSAUT)

Building alliances with development projects (GTZ CAP) secure immediate implementation of research findings

Advance in the costs and benefits analysis at all the scales (farm, region, national)

Proved that even with scientific evidence establishing buyer and seller profiles was not easy as its not always clear who to target

PENDING TASKS

Review of other CPWF project in the Andes

Review of final versions of CPWF projects reports

To collect comments from project implementers