Assessing Socio-Economic Factors Affecting the Implementation of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) Mechanism

Beeju Poudyal, Suraj Upadhaya, Suman Acharya and Bir Bahadur Khanal Chhetri
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Beeju Poudyal: Institute of Forestry Pokhara Campus, Pokhara 33700, Nepal
Suraj Upadhaya: Himalayan Conservation and Research Institute, Dolpa 21400, Nepal
Suman Acharya: Himalayan Conservation and Research Institute, Dolpa 21400, Nepal
Bir Bahadur Khanal Chhetri: Institute of Forestry Pokhara Campus, Pokhara 33700, Nepal

World, 2021, vol. 2, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: The Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) mechanism has been pursued as a means to provide incentives for achieving conservation goals while also promoting rural development by alleviating poverty. However, the degree to which these goals are met depends on the implementation of the programs, which depends on the desirability and accessibility of programs targeting rural communities. Understanding the factors motivating or dissuading PES is vital for successful implementation. This paper evaluated the determinants of locals’ preference for PES implementation in the Begnas Lake Watershed. We interviewed 180 residents representing upstream and downstream. Factors such as income, the distance between house and lake, knowledge about PES, education, and duration of living in the area significantly determined locals’ attitude towards PES implementation. Their decision to take a stake in the PES program, if implemented, was influenced by income, family size, the distance between house and lake, education, and knowledge about PES. The majority of the household prefer community forestry as an institution and indirect payment as a compensation mechanism. The study suggests that the implementation of PES can contribute to uplifting the livelihood of local communities and conservation of Begnas lake watershed. The study further recommends the involvement of multi-stakeholders for ground-level awareness.

Keywords: PES; payment for environmental services; watersheds; institutions; payment mechanisms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G15 G17 G18 L21 L22 L25 L26 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 R51 R52 R58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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