A briefing document for WWF Panama on the strengths and weaknesses of Payment for Ecosystem Services.
Definitions:
Wunder (2005) categorises Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) into five criteria stating that it needs:
1. To be voluntary
2. To be well defined
3. One buyer
4. One provider
5. Provider to have secure provision of ES
Wallace, (2007) defined ecosystem services (ES) as “the benefits people obtain from ecosystems, which include food, water, timber and cultural values”.
Current status:
Increasingly there is a need to conserve global tropical habitats as it is currently estimated that 45% of all carbon is stored in the forests in terrestrial habitats (Garcia-Ulloa and Pin Koh, 2016). Therefore, there is a need for international cooperation. Recently at the United Nations Paris Climate Change Convention in 2015, 195 countries agreed to a global climate change pact. In this the countries agreed to reduce their carbon emissions to limit the amount of global warming to 2C above pre-industrial levels (Fawcett et al., 2015). As a result of this agreement the use of Payment for Ecosystem Services are likely to become more widespread by governments of forest-rich countries wishing to lower their carbon emissions. This may encourage local people to benefit from preserving and reforesting habitats in the tropics which would be beneficial for primate conservation.
REDD +
In 2008 the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) initiated a programme
Putting a higher value on nature is a step towards the creation of a green economy. Jobs are created on better terms locally and the people can work together, with a better cleaner water supply.
The Jane Goodall Institute website provides information about the projects regarding the protection of chimpanzees and other primates. Based on the institute’s initiative to protect the primates by providing education to the community, supporting sanctuaries, and working with law enforcements (website JGI). Furthermore, the information provided on the program Roots & Shoots points out a guide to those interested in helping the wild life, and provides aid to elaborate new plans to help the primates. The first step is to acknowledge the problem, in this case is finding a way to protect the chimpanzees. Second, to elaborate a pan, the JGI conservation program uses technology such as cloud computing and remote sensing to provide up to date information on the
(Dietz et al., 2003; Monbiot, 1994; Ostrom, 2009) Ostrom’s paper examines the diverse outcomes of the commons, as supposed to Hardin’s “one-size-fits-all”. (Ostrom et al., 2009, p. 419) This way of looking at the possible outcomes of CPRs differs from Hardin’s in that it takes into account different social and economic variables, whereas Hardin bases his perspective uniquely off of real-life examples, such as that of the high seas. She introduces the Social-Ecological-System (SES), which is a framework for examining the different roles, variables, and context that all play into the maintenance or collapse of an ecosystem. (Ostrom, 2009) SESs are made up of “(i) resource units…(ii) resource systems… (iii) governance systems… and (iv) users” (Ostrom, 2009, p.420) who all interact, and play certain roles in the outcome of an ecosystem. (Ostrom,
These marine protected areas that are being recognized as efficient tools for protecting eco systems and bringing benefits to our local communities. There is still room for improvement because many of these areas today are not effectively managed. There are many differences in their revenues and management profiles. And all of these MPAs share a common problem – a critical lack of sustainable funding for their recurrent expenses and investments. Rosenberg would agree this as one of the main reasons our marine resources can’t be managed. If there is no predictable funding, the MPAs cannot hire staff to manage and plan these
Primates, unlike humans are found only in tropical or subtropical regions of the Americas, African, and Asian continent. Primates come in different sizes and shapes. They range from Lemurs as small as, Madame Berthes Mouse Lemur to the largest primate living known as the Eastern Gorilla. Primates, similar to humans are species that play an important role in maintaining and influencing our ecological system. They maintain the forest system between animals and its resources by taking on various roles such as being herbivores, pollinators, and seed dispersers (Chapman & Peres, 2001). However, over time many species of primates have become endangered and are threatened with extinction due to human activities such as Habitat Destruction, Hunting/Bush meat, Pet Trade, and Diseases. “It has been estimated that more than 50% of all primate species are faced with some sort of threat” (Chapman & Peres, 2001). Leaving us with an increasing number of discovered and undiscovered primate species endangered or at the brink of extinction.
The ecosystem goods that are provided are timber, livestock production, and water supply. The values of these goods are taken under control for mostly emerging markets and have become an increasing problem for panamas ecosystems. The demand for more land use, exotic and native plantations, and selling carbon credits. There are many efforts that are being undertaken to protect the ecosystems. The National System of Protected Areas (SINAP) forces the principle to conserve the countries biological richness. With 65 official designation protected areas, Panama has 2,600,018.050ha of land under the National System of Protected Areas, which covers about 34.43% of the total land area. Twelve protected areas are internationally recognized.
Their toil is to create an understanding, appreciation and valuing of nature by people and corporations alike. To achieve this end, they engage with governments, civic societies, and companies to raise awareness and prevent rampant destruction of the eco-balance in these places especially by business interests. Rainforests are very vital in terms of regulating the world’s climate as well as with the provision of fresh water (Wonderopolis, 2016). Additionally, they are home to fast disappearing numbers of people who in most cases, have their whole lives
The problem is that climate change and hunting are hurting the tropical rainforest. “People also remove certain plants from the rainforest for medicine, herbal shampoo, and some perfume”(West Warwick[WW]) This quote shows that people and corporations just do what they want without thought of what their hurting. “each hour of the day, 1,000 to 3,000 acres of the rainforest are destroyed.”(WW) This shows the more destructive side of corporations are hiding, just for a few extra Benjamins. “Poachers also kill 60-70% of animals in the rainforest.”(WW) This shows that animals that are endangered are now in more danger from climate change, predators, plants and humans. Those are a few causes to the
Sanchez’s decision was an application of the principle of responsibility to future generations because even though $600,000 is a large sum of money, his refusal of the offer shows that he wants to protect old-growth rain forests for the future generations of the world. If I was in Sanchez’s position, I would have refused the offer as well because the protection of old-growth rain forests has a great importance of providing a safe environment for future generations if I continue living on the land in a sustainable way. By living sustainably, I will also be able to make a profit to continuing the preservation of these
US wetlands compensation system highlights on qualifying potential bankers which will meet the biodiversity offsets goals. This system proved that banking will provide more offset credits. Through this approach, U.S. has a great experience of biodiversity offsets.
Building the economic case for the preservation of open space: An analysis of the limitations and advantages to utilizing the Benefit-Transfer Method toward natural capital and ecosystem valuation.
1. From the economic analysis provided by PC b, Envision Alachua definitely appears to be an appetizing approach to utilizing Alachua County’s property. PC b states that conservation easements are “likely to provide tens of millions of dollars of value to the public in the form of forest ecosystem services” (pp 18).One of the goals of the Envision plan is to provide Alachua with recreation, aesthetics, and cultural use through 23, 216 acres of conversation easement while also addressing the rivalry of those goals with resources management and private use. While conservation will diminish resource utilization for private use, PC b goes on to state that between $18.2 and 72.8 million is valued for the services of timber, carbon sequestration, and water quality, thus increasing natural resource common pool goods. Regardless, even If these areas are protected from pure private use, the county is still saving money long term as they will not have to invest in water quality initiatives or carbon reduction. Additionally, the potential for public benefit is even acknowledged in the dissenting SP B article, in the form of jobs for surrounding areas which can also be seen as a Common Pool good. All in all, at the surface, Envision Alachua seems like a promising plan that balances public and private wants to effectively manage and conserve land through economic development, natural resource preservation, and secondary uses such as residential areas.
The rate of deforestation is increasing and the tropical forests are falling at approximately 140,000 acres per day (Miller & Tangley 1991: xvi). The forests are crucial to the environment. They are important in minimizing erosion, providing a stable habitat for many animals, and helping to keep the environment clean. Deforestation has devastating effects, not only on the biological dependents within the depleted forests, but also on the surrounding human-populated communities.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is a part of the conservation and human rights organization industry, which promotes positive change to causes such as social and environmental issues, human rights, local communities, peace and other social causes. The conservation industry garners most of its revenue through private contributions (50.8%), government grants (16.3%), membership services, program services (14.2%), membership fees (7.7%), and investment income (Conservation & Human…). The remainder of revenue is generated through licensing rights, advertising services, and merchandise sales.
World Wildlife Fund’s work has resulted, for example, in setting aside more than 450 parks and reserves, covering an area more than four times the size of California. The establishment of the 11 million-square-mile circumpolar Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary to help the recovery of critically endangered species like the blue whale. The creation of the Turtle Island Heritage Protected Area, the largest green turtle rookery in Southeast Asia and an important nesting site for hawksbill turtles (World Wildlife Fund, 2). Without this organization the public would not be aware of what is really going on and the extreme danger wildlife is in right now.