1
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Bush G, Taye FA, Fleming C, Samndong RA. Evaluating the costs of primary forest conservation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, implications for policy and practice. J Environ Manage 2024; 352:119975. [PMID: 38211431 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Accurate cost information is needed to assess the trade-offs in land management choices for policy and markets to effectively scale forest conservation impact. Choice of valuation method can affect value estimates of the costs associated with forest conservation for heterogenous rural households in poorly functioning markets. We present empirical evidence on the divergence in measures between a market price and contingent valuation estimate for costs of local forest access restrictions from household surveys deploying quantitative valuation methods, conducted in two forest communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Household demographic characteristics and attitudes of the household on forest use significantly influence required levels of compensation to participate in forest protection. Quantitative knowledge of such costs can help in the design of efficient and effective policies to protect primary forests aimed at reducing the drivers of deforestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glenn Bush
- Woodwell Climate Research Center, 149 Woodshole Road, Falmouth, MA, 02556, USA.
| | - Fitalew Agimass Taye
- Griffith Business School, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia; The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
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2
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Kangas J, Ollikainen M. Reforming a pre-existing biodiversity conservation scheme: Promoting climate co-benefits by a carbon payment. Ambio 2023; 52:1847-1860. [PMID: 36773179 PMCID: PMC10562355 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01833-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Protecting forests provides potential synergies for both biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. Payments for ecosystem services (PES) schemes are commonly used to promote biodiversity conservation in private forests, and including carbon as another target may be a cost-efficient way to promote both goals. We analyse a hypothetical reform on a forest biodiversity PES scheme by supplementing it with a carbon payment paid to landowners for also providing carbon benefits. With a site selection model, we examine how the proposed scheme could promote biodiversity and carbon values, and what level of the carbon payment would provide the highest synergy gains. We found that introducing the payment promotes both targets, but there is a temporal trade-off between selecting sites with high carbon storage or sites with good sequestration potential. The highest synergy gains are obtained in most cases by a second-best payment level of 10-20 € tCO2-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Kangas
- Department of Economics and Management, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Markku Ollikainen
- Department of Economics and Management, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
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3
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Ravaioli G, Domingos T, F M Teixeira R. Data-driven agent-based modelling of incentives for carbon sequestration: The case of sown biodiverse pastures in Portugal. J Environ Manage 2023; 338:117834. [PMID: 37011533 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Sown biodiverse permanent pastures rich in legumes (SBP) offset animal farming emissions due to their potential to sequester carbon. From 2009 to 2014 Portugal implemented a programme that provided payments to incentivize the adoption of SBP. However, no proper evaluation of its outcome was conducted. To address this gap, we develop an agent-based model (ABM) at the municipality level to study the adoption of SBP in Portugal and assess the outcome of the programme. We applied the first pure data-driven approach in agricultural land-use ABM, which relies on machine learning algorithms to define the agents' behavioural rules and capture their interaction with biophysical conditions. The ABM confirms that the program effectively expanded the adoption of SBP. However, our estimates indicate that the adoption rate in the absence of payments would have been higher than originally predicted. Furthermore, the existence of the program decreased the adoption rate after its conclusion. These findings underscore the importance of using reliable models and considering residual effects to properly design land use policies. The ABM developed in this study provides a basis for future research aimed at supporting the development of new policies to further promote the adoption of SBP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Ravaioli
- MARETEC - Marine, Environment and Technology Centre, LARSyS, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Tiago Domingos
- MARETEC - Marine, Environment and Technology Centre, LARSyS, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ricardo F M Teixeira
- MARETEC - Marine, Environment and Technology Centre, LARSyS, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal
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4
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Sattler C, Barghusen R, Bredemeier B, Dutilly C, Prager K. Metadata to describe the dataset on involved actors and their roles in the governance of innovative contracts for agri-environmental and climate schemes. Data Brief 2023; 48:109156. [PMID: 37180877 PMCID: PMC10172853 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2023.109156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Agri-environmental and climate schemes are an important policy instrument in the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union to maintain biodiversity and safeguard ecosystem services provision for human wellbeing. In the presented dataset, we analyzed 19 innovative contracts for agri-environmental and climate schemes from six European countries, representing examples of four different contract types: result-based, collective, land tenure, and value chain contracts. Our analytical approach comprised three steps: In the first step, we used a method mix combining literature review, web search, and expert consultation to identify potential case examples for the innovative contracts. In the second step, we employed a survey, which was structured in accordance with Ostrom's institutional analysis and development framework to collect detailed information on each contract. The survey was either filled in by us authors, based on information retrieved from websites and other data sources, or by experts directly involved in the different contracts. Based on the collected data, in the third step, an in-depth analysis was conducted on the public, private, and civil actors involved from different governance levels (local, regional, national, or international) and the roles these actors perform in contract governance. The dataset generated through these three steps contains 84 data files, which includes tables, figures, maps, and a text file. The dataset can be re-used by all interested in result-based, collective, land tenure, and value chain contracts for agri-environmental and climate schemes. Each contract is characterized in great detail by 34 variables making the dataset suitable for further institutional and governance analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Sattler
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Working group: Governance of Ecosystem Services, Eberswalder Str. 84, Müncheberg 15374, Germany
- Corresponding author.
| | - Rena Barghusen
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Working group: Governance of Ecosystem Services, Eberswalder Str. 84, Müncheberg 15374, Germany
| | - Birte Bredemeier
- Institute of Environmental Planning, Leibniz University Hannover, Herrenhäuser Str. 2, Hannover 30419, Germany
| | - Céline Dutilly
- CIRAD, UMR MoISA, Montpellier F-34398, France
- MoISA, CIRAD, CIHEAM-IAMM, INRAE, Institut Agro, IRD, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Katrin Prager
- Department of Geography and Environment, University of Aberdeen, St Mary's, Elphinstone Road, Aberdeen AB23 3UF, United Kingdom
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Jiangyi L, Shiquan D. Eco-compensation in China: achievement, experience, and improvement. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2022; 29:60867-60884. [PMID: 35435550 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20181-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Payments for ecosystem services (PES) provide innovative solutions for global environmental governance. China, the largest developing country, always faces severe ecological and environmental problems. China created an eco-compensation mechanism that combines the PES mechanism with the government's standardized management, which has achieved remarkable results. Government-led, social participation, and market-oriented operation are its main characteristics. More importantly, the mechanism helps China achieve its anti-poverty goals. Part of its experiences has been transformed into formal institutions, i.e., farmland fallow and rotation policies. However, some problems have also plagued further development, such as the lack of environmental property rights, the single source of funds, and the shortage of standardized ecological value assessment technology. We suggest that it is necessary to improve the stability of China's eco-compensation mechanism. The achievement of China's eco-compensation mechanism provides helpful guidance for other developing countries. For example, it is enhancing the role of government administrative power and the flexibility of the system through the policy "sandbox," i.e., the policy pilot, encouraging the participation of multi-stakeholder groups, and so on. Last but most important, the policy and institutions must be closely integrated with the nation's state for it to be sustainable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Jiangyi
- School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, East Lake New Technology Development Zone, Room 432, No. 68 Jincheng Street, Wuhan, 430074, People's Republic of China
- Research Center of Resource and Environmental Economics, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, People's Republic of China
| | - Dou Shiquan
- School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, East Lake New Technology Development Zone, Room 432, No. 68 Jincheng Street, Wuhan, 430074, People's Republic of China.
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Li Q. Survey data on livelihood assets, activities and outcomes of smallholder farm households in China's Loess Plateau. Data Brief 2021; 39:107638. [PMID: 34988271 PMCID: PMC8711053 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2021.107638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Smallholders' decisions on land use and their activities and strategies of livelihoods are the critical source of uncertainty in natural resource use and an essential determinant of sustainability challenges. This data article provides a selection of quantitative data from a questionnaire survey on livelihood assets, activities and outcomes of smallholder farm households in Yan'he Township, which lies in the middle part of China's Loess Plateau, one of the representative Grain for Green Project areas [1]. Data include land-use decisions and agronomic practices, fertilisation, use of pesticides, machine and irrigation, farm and non-farm activities, financial performance, and the levels of household income, wellness, and total consumption of food, energy, and education and health care. The survey also covered geographical, demographic and socioeconomic background information on the respondents and their perceptions, incentives, propensities and subjective wellbeing. The survey has supported a couple of research articles that build indicators and indexes for economic, environmental and socio-cultural sustainability dimensions and the resilience building of coupled social-ecological systems. The data presented in this article were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics and provided at the Mendeley Repository. The data will assist studies on the interrelationships of smallholder livelihoods, ecosystem conservation, interventionist policy and market support, and community capacity building in sustainability science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qirui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Water and Soil Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, China
- Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), EberswalderStraße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany
- Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence, University of Bayreuth, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
- Climatology Research Group, University of Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
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7
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Dou P, Zuo S, Ren Y, Rodriguez MJ, Dai S. Refined water security assessment for sustainable water management: A case study of 15 key cities in the Yangtze River Delta, China. J Environ Manage 2021; 290:112588. [PMID: 33901833 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Water security represents ecological security and a policy priority for sustainable development; however, un-gridded assessment results cannot be used to support urban environmental management decisions. This study proposes a systematic framework to obtain a gridded regional water security assessment, which reflects the regional natural resource, based on the index system derived from the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model and the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model. The results were applied to sustainable water management. Using 15 key cities in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region as a case study to apply the methodology, we found that the comprehensive water security was relatively high and high-value areas were widely distributed, accounting for about two-thirds of the study area. Low-value areas were mainly distributed in central and eastern regions, such as Shanghai, Suzhou, and Nanjing. There was evidence of a water resource shortage during the twelve-month period studied, particularly in August. The proportions of comprehensive water security in each administrative unit and the differences between simulated and target water quality could be used in the spatial planning and the exploration of payments for ecosystem services (PES) mechanism in county-level or smaller administrative units. Despite the premise requirement and the grid resolution problems of the InVEST model, it can be concluded that our assessment method proves capable of matching spatial and temporal differences in water supply and demand at a fine scale, and results can be used to supply useful information for urban management decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panfeng Dou
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shudi Zuo
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China.
| | - Yin Ren
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China; Ningbo Urban Environment Observation and Research Station-NUEORS, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315800, China.
| | - Manuel J Rodriguez
- École Supérieure d'Aménagement du Territoire et de Développement Régional, Université Laval, Québec, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Shaoqing Dai
- Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500AE, Enschede, the Netherlands
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8
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Wu X, Wang S, Fu B. Multilevel analysis of factors affecting participants' land reconversion willingness after the Grain for Green Program. Ambio 2021; 50:1394-1403. [PMID: 33454912 PMCID: PMC8116479 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-020-01475-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the postprogram land use plans of participants is necessary for the sustainability of the conservation achievements from payments for ecosystem services (PES) programs. Previous studies have analyzed many individual factors affecting participants' reconversion plans after PES programs. However, whether the regional ecosystem services changes caused by PES programs affect reconversion willingness remains elusive. Here, we used the multilevel linear model to determine the effects of regional ecosystem services changes and individual characteristics on participants' land reconversion willingness after the Grain for Green Program (GFGP) in the Yanhe watershed of the Loess Plateau. We found that household income, ecological awareness, and employment changes negatively affected reconversion willingness, while nonfarm employment positively affected it at the individual level. At the regional level, the grain production and water yield changes could influence the reconversion willingness of respondents with different individual characteristics. With improved understanding of the factors affecting reconversion willingness, several suggestions to improve the sustainability of the GFGP were proposed. Our study provides a template for analyzing the multilevel factors that affect the sustainability of other PES programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xutong Wu
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871 People’s Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, PO Box 2871, Beijing, 100085 People’s Republic of China
| | - Shuai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875 People’s Republic of China
| | - Bojie Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, PO Box 2871, Beijing, 100085 People’s Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875 People’s Republic of China
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Grima N, Edwards D, Edwards F, Petley D, Fisher B. Landslides in the Andes: Forests can provide cost-effective landslide regulation services. Sci Total Environ 2020; 745:141128. [PMID: 32736113 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Landslides cause billions of dollars (USD) in damage and hundreds of life losses every year in mountainous areas globally, and these effects are exacerbated by climate change and increased human occupation of vulnerable areas. In many mountainous regions forests deliver slope stability, helping to prevent landslides. However, forests are progressively converted into other land uses in many mountainous regions. In this study, we focus on the Colombian Andes, the most populated and deadly landslide-prone part of Colombia. We aim to determine the difference in frequency of landslides from forested and non-forested areas, and subsequently, quantify the potential costs and benefits of protecting forest and of restoring forest from agricultural lands. To that end, we combine economic data with geographical information related to public and private infrastructure, land use, and landslide susceptibility. Analyzing the national landslide database of Colombia, we established that landslides are almost six times (581%) more likely to occur on non-forested lands than on forested lands. From an economic perspective, by preventing landslides, forests provide a net benefit through the provision of slope stability services. Our most conservative estimates indicate it is 16 times more cost-effective to promote forest corridors, via conservation or reforestation along roads by paying farmers and cattle herders their opportunity costs, than for the public to pay the expected value of landslide damage. Our analysis provides strong evidence that vegetated hillsides can provide a cost-effective ecosystem service approach to mitigate economic losses due to landslides in one of the world's most landslide prone areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelson Grima
- Environmental Program, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, 153 South Prospect Street, Burlington, VT 05401, USA.
| | - David Edwards
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Felicity Edwards
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - David Petley
- Department of Geography, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Brendan Fisher
- Environmental Program, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, 153 South Prospect Street, Burlington, VT 05401, USA; Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont, 617 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401, USA
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Abstract
Transforming Latin America's extensive grazing systems is critical for forest landscape restoration (FLR) but conservation initiatives rarely make efforts to include cattle ranchers. Engaging ranchers requires understanding their perceptions about how improved management and conservation practices fit into their overall production strategy. To assess ranchers' motivations and limitations for adopting conservation-friendly practices, I surveyed 191 ranchers and extension agents participating in a silvopastoral project in Colombia. I found that ranchers are integrating multiple practices they perceive as complementary for achieving their goals: practices aimed at improving productivity are motivated by utilitarian values, while practices targeting environmental degradation and climate change are driven by stewardship and identity values. Input costs and labor shortages currently limit the expansion of conservation-friendly practices, but in-kind support and small cash payments could potentially alleviate these barriers. Silvopastoral ranchers can be instrumental partners in FLR provided that initiatives are designed with their perspectives in mind.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Calle
- Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High St, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA.
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Yu H, Xie W, Yang L, Du A, Almeida CMVB, Wang Y. From payments for ecosystem services to eco-compensation: Conceptual change or paradigm shift? Sci Total Environ 2020; 700:134627. [PMID: 31693962 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Payments for ecosystem services (PES) is an effective policy in conserving ecosystem services and is increasingly applied globally. The concept of PES was firstly defined in 2005, researches with various terminologies, concepts, and practices emerged since then. This paper analyzed the research patterns of PES studies through bibliometric methods, with a special focus on the trends of terminology, location (geographical research hotspot), types of PES, and PES effectiveness evaluation based on author keywords analysis. The results showed that PES started to receive considerable academic attentions from 2005, and the number of PES publications have relatively kept an increasing trend since then. The most influential journal, country, research organization, and author were Ecological Economics, USA, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS, China), and Dr. Wunder. Further analysis revealed that there were various terminologies in PES studies, notably "ecological compensation" and "eco-compensation" (EC) were primarily adapted by Chinese research community. China was the geographical research hotspot and developing countries (Vietnam, Mexico, and Brazil) have received growing academic interests in last decade. "Forest and Carbon" PES was the most concerned types of PES in last five years. There were 125 articles evaluated the effectiveness of empirical PES initiatives, and the majority focused on the social aspect. We proposed two suggestions for future research: (1) adapting EC as an alternative term for PES studies because of its inclusiveness and representation of empirical practices; (2) enhancing integrated evaluation of PES programs to achieve multiple benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huajun Yu
- Fudan Tyndall Center and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP3), Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Wei Xie
- Fudan Tyndall Center and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP3), Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Lan Yang
- Fudan Tyndall Center and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP3), Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Anshu Du
- Fudan Tyndall Center and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP3), Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | | | - Yutao Wang
- Fudan Tyndall Center and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP3), Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; Institute of Eco-Chongming (SIEC), No. 3663 Northern Zhongshan Road, Shanghai 200062, China.
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12
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Xu J, Xiao Y, Xie G, Wang Y, Jiang Y. Computing payments for wind erosion prevention service incorporating ecosystem services flow and regional disparity in Yanchi County. Sci Total Environ 2019; 674:563-579. [PMID: 31022546 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 02/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Simulating the flows of ecosystem services (ESs) can help understand their spatiotemporal flow paths from generation to use, thereby facilitating payments from beneficiaries to providers of ESs. In this study, an analytical framework incorporated with ES flows and regional disparity was established to compute payments for wind erosion prevention service (WEPS). The results showed that between 2010 and 2015, both the potential and actual wind erosion amounts in Yanchi County decreased considerably, and the total amount of sand fixed by WEPS decreased significantly from 3.71 × 109 kg to 0.08 × 109 kg; additionally, the economic value of the WEPS also decreased from CNY 479.46 million to CNY 10.22 million. Based on the spatiotemporal movements of the physical and economic value flows of the WEPS, this study revealed spatiotemporal relationships between areas providing and benefiting from the WEPS of Yanchi County and provided a direct, scientific basis for decision makers to formulate payment systems for WEPS. The total amount paid for WEPS by beneficiaries in China should theoretically be CNY 38.16 million in 2010 and CNY 1.00 million in 2015 based on the economic value flow of WEPS and the regional disparity coefficient. This framework can provide a scientific and objective basis for establishing horizontal ecological compensation policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Xu
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, A11 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 A Yuquan Road, No.19, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yu Xiao
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, A11 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 A Yuquan Road, No.19, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Gaodi Xie
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, A11 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 A Yuquan Road, No.19, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yangyang Wang
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, A11 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 A Yuquan Road, No.19, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yuan Jiang
- Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, No.19, XinJieKouWai St., HaiDian District, Beijing 100875, China
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13
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Zhang Q, Bilsborrow RE, Song C, Tao S, Huang Q. Rural household income distribution and inequality in China: Effects of payments for ecosystem services policies and other factors. Ecol Econ 2019; 160:114-127. [PMID: 32367906 PMCID: PMC7198050 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2019.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
In the late 1990s, China initiated the Conversion of Croplands to Forest Program (CCFP) and the Ecological Welfare Forest Program (EWFP) based on the Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) principle. Positive socioeconomic outcomes of the programs are essential for the long-term success of eco-environment conservation. However, there is lack of understanding of their longer-term (over 10 years) impacts on rural livelihoods. In this paper, we examine income distribution and inequality of rural households under CCFP and EWFP in rural Anhui, China after 12 years of program implementation. Results show that CCFP-participating households have higher income inequality than non-participants, while the EWFP does not have an significant effect. Local off-farm work and out-migration with remittances are the two principal income sources and both add to inequality. A regression-based decomposition of inequality shows that the CCFP indirectly alters livelihoods by increasing out-migration with remittances, but it also adds to inequality from shifting livelihoods to non-agricultural activities. Meanwhile, EWFP payments positively affect agricultural incomes and contribute 16% to agricultural income inequality. Finally, human capital, natural capital and physical capital all play important roles in generating income and inequality, but the factors affecting inequality from agricultural and non-agricultural activities are different.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhang
- The Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Richard E. Bilsborrow
- Department of Geography, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Conghe Song
- Department of Geography, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Shiqi Tao
- Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Qingfeng Huang
- School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, P.R. China
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Muenzel D, Martino S. Assessing the feasibility of carbon payments and Payments for Ecosystem Services to reduce livestock grazing pressure on saltmarshes. J Environ Manage 2018; 225:46-61. [PMID: 30071366 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.07.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Saltmarshes provide important services including flood control, climate regulation, and provisioning services when grazed by livestock for agriculture and conservation purposes. Grazing diminishes aboveground carbon, creating a trade-off between these two services. Furthermore, saltmarshes are threatened by overgrazing. To provide saltmarsh protection and ensure the continuing delivery of ecosystem services, there is a need to incentivise land managers to stock environmentally sensible densities. We therefore investigated the possibility of agri-environmental schemes and Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) to compensate for lost livestock revenue under reduced grazing regimes and provide carbon sequestration and other benefits. This is the first study to consider the benefits arising from a potential carbon market to saltmarshes, although similar schemes exist for peatland and woodland. We calculated the net economic benefit (costs of livestock production are removed from revenue) to farmers obtained from a hectare of grazed saltmarsh under low (0.3 Livestock Units per hectare per year), moderate (0.6), high (1.0) and very high (2.0) stocking densities accounting for livestock revenue, carbon benefits, and agri-environmental subsidies. We repeated the procedure considering additional benefits transferred from the literature in terms of provisioning, regulating and cultural ecosystem services provided by protected saltmarshes. The net benefits were assessed for a range of market carbon prices and social costs of carbon, e.g. the opportunity cost of carbon for society. Applying the model to Scottish saltmarshes we find that the current range of market prices could prompt transitions from high to moderate regimes in areas where livestock value is low, however break-even prices for transitions showed high spatial variability due to spatial variability in livestock values. In some areas of the West Highlands, the break-even carbon price is negative, indicating that the current agri-environmental schemes are able to more than compensate for the lost revenue accruing to farmers by a reduced grazing density. However, in other areas, such as the Outer Hebrides, the break-even carbon price is positive. Private PES schemes or increased public subsidies should then be provided to generate net benefits. It is reasonable to infer that a pure carbon market may have limited scope in incentivising consumers to buy carbon services, especially in areas with limited local number of buyers and corporates of small size. Under this circumstance, a premium carbon market offering bundled ecosystem services may help reduce grazing pressure across a larger number of Scottish saltmarshes, thereby providing globally important climate regulation services and at the same time protecting sensitive habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Muenzel
- Scottish Association for Marine Science, Laurence Mee Centre for Society & Sea, Oban, PA37 1QA, Scotland, UK.
| | - Simone Martino
- Scottish Association for Marine Science, Laurence Mee Centre for Society & Sea, Oban, PA37 1QA, Scotland, UK; University of York, Department of Environment and Geography, 290 Wentworth Way, Heslington, York, YO10 5NG, UK.
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15
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Shang W, Gong Y, Wang Z, Stewardson MJ. Eco-compensation in China: Theory, practices and suggestions for the future. J Environ Manage 2018; 210:162-170. [PMID: 29339334 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.12.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/30/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Eco-compensation is the most important form of compensatory conservation in China. However, this compensatory mechanism is criticized for vague definition and massive government participation. For better understanding of eco-compensation in China, this paper compares theories and practices of compensatory mechanisms in China and abroad. The analysis of theoretical backgrounds shows that eco-compensation in China is a combination of 'ecological compensation' and 'payments for ecosystem services'. Ten compensatory projects in China and abroad are assessed to reveal characteristics and problems of eco-compensation in China. The results show that compensatory projects in China lagged behind mature foreign compensatory projects in clarity of property rights, responsibility fulfillment, executive efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability and equality. The massive participation of the government is the major reason for the poor performance of compensatory projects in China. However, government participation is necessary at the present stage in China for the income gap and beneficiaries' low willingness to pay. For the improvement of eco-compensation in China, suggestions are given on the choice of non-market valuation methods, the creation of property rights and the establishment of market mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxiu Shang
- Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 10084, China
| | - Yicheng Gong
- State Key Lab of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 10084, China
| | - Zhongjing Wang
- State Key Lab of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 10084, China; State Key Lab of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, 810016, China.
| | - Michael J Stewardson
- Department of Infrastructure Engineering, The University of Melbourne, 3010, Australia.
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Jones KW, Cannon JB, Saavedra FA, Kampf SK, Addington RN, Cheng AS, MacDonald LH, Wilson C, Wolk B. Return on investment from fuel treatments to reduce severe wildfire and erosion in a watershed investment program in Colorado. J Environ Manage 2017; 198:66-77. [PMID: 28501609 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2016] [Revised: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/06/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A small but growing number of watershed investment programs in the western United States focus on wildfire risk reduction to municipal water supplies. This paper used return on investment (ROI) analysis to quantify how the amounts and placement of fuel treatment interventions would reduce sediment loading to the Strontia Springs Reservoir in the Upper South Platte River watershed southwest of Denver, Colorado following an extreme fire event. We simulated various extents of fuel mitigation activities under two placement strategies: (a) a strategic treatment prioritization map and (b) accessibility. Potential fire behavior was modeled under each extent and scenario to determine the impact on fire severity, and this was used to estimate expected change in post-fire erosion due to treatments. We found a positive ROI after large storm events when fire mitigation treatments were placed in priority areas with diminishing marginal returns after treating >50-80% of the forested area. While our ROI results should not be used prescriptively they do show that, conditional on severe fire occurrence and precipitation, investments in the Upper South Platte could feasibly lead to positive financial returns based on the reduced costs of dredging sediment from the reservoir. While our analysis showed positive ROI focusing only on post-fire erosion mitigation, it is important to consider multiple benefits in future ROI calculations and increase monitoring and evaluation of these benefits of wildfire fuel reduction investments for different site conditions and climates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly W Jones
- Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
| | - Jeffery B Cannon
- Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Freddy A Saavedra
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Stephanie K Kampf
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | - Antony S Cheng
- Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA; Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Lee H MacDonald
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Codie Wilson
- Department of Geosciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Brett Wolk
- Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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17
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Abstract
In spite of broad and positive expectations, payments for ecosystem services (PES) can bring about unexpected and negative consequences, especially in terms of their impacts on the well-being of local communities dependent on ecosystems. Based on numerous observations of recurring problems with PES, we put forward an ecosystem service curse hypothesis (Kronenberg and Hubacek in Ecol Soc 18:art.10. doi:10.5751/ES-05240-180110, 2013), that points to counterintuitive negative development outcomes for countries and regions rich in ecosystem services. The social and economic problems that we have been able to depict in many PES schemes reflect the persistence of maladaptive states in pursuit of sustainability. Instead of providing an opportunity to break out of poverty, these problems reflect entrapment, which is most often related to poor quality of institutions. Here we highlight the linkages between the ecosystem service curse hypothesis and the dynamic system stability landscapes discussed in this special issue. Our article consists of three parts in which we: (1) present the original ecosystem service curse hypothesis; (2) link this hypothesis to the broader discussions relevant to sustainability science; and (3) highlight the context of traps on which this special feature focuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Kronenberg
- Department of International Economics, Faculty of Economics and Sociology, University of Lodz, P.O.W. 3/5, 90-255 Lodz, Poland
| | - Klaus Hubacek
- Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 USA
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18
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Reed MS, Stringer LC, Dougill AJ, Perkins JS, Atlhopheng JR, Mulale K, Favretto N. Reorienting land degradation towards sustainable land management: linking sustainable livelihoods with ecosystem services in rangeland systems. J Environ Manage 2015; 151:472-485. [PMID: 25617787 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2014] [Revised: 11/04/2014] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
This paper identifies new ways of moving from land degradation towards sustainable land management through the development of economic mechanisms. It identifies new mechanisms to tackle land degradation based on retaining critical levels of natural capital whilst basing livelihoods on a wider range of ecosystem services. This is achieved through a case study analysis of the Kalahari rangelands in southwest Botswana. The paper first describes the socio-economic and ecological characteristics of the Kalahari rangelands and the types of land degradation taking place. It then focuses on bush encroachment as a way of exploring new economic instruments (e.g. Payments for Ecosystem Services) designed to enhance the flow of ecosystem services that support livelihoods in rangeland systems. It does this by evaluating the likely impacts of bush encroachment, one of the key forms of rangeland degradation, on a range of ecosystem services in three land tenure types (private fenced ranches, communal grazing areas and Wildlife Management Areas), before considering options for more sustainable land management in these systems. We argue that with adequate policy support, economic mechanisms could help reorient degraded rangelands towards more sustainable land management.
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Affiliation(s)
- M S Reed
- Knowledge ExCHANGE Research Centre of Excellence, Birmingham School of the Built Environment, Birmingham City University, Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham B4 7XG, UK.
| | - L C Stringer
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth & Environment, University of Leeds, West Yorkshire LS2 9JT, UK
| | - A J Dougill
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth & Environment, University of Leeds, West Yorkshire LS2 9JT, UK
| | - J S Perkins
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Botswana, Private Bag, 00704 Gaborone, Botswana
| | - J R Atlhopheng
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Botswana, Private Bag, 00704 Gaborone, Botswana
| | - K Mulale
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Botswana, Private Bag, 00704 Gaborone, Botswana
| | - N Favretto
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth & Environment, University of Leeds, West Yorkshire LS2 9JT, UK
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