scholarly journals Afforesting Icelandic land: a promising approach for climate smart forestry?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanislava Brnkalakova ◽  
Jan Svetlik ◽  
Sigríður Júlía Brynleifsdóttir ◽  
Arnór Snorrason ◽  
Viera Baštáková ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Social Values ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Payments For Ecosystem Services ◽  
European Policy ◽  
Policy Documents ◽  
Forest Ecosystem Services ◽  
Local Farmers

Climate smart forestry (CSF) is considered as a promising approach for climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies as highlighted in several European policy documents. This paper describes a prospective approach to introducing an incentive-based scheme to facilitate the implementation of CSF through a case study in Iceland. It is argued that the payments for ecosystem services (PES) scheme allows for effective CSF management and long-term sustainability if introduced in compliance with local, cultural and social values. In a case study of an Icelandic afforestation programme, we conducted an institutional analysis of the PES scheme and assessed its effect on forest ecosystem services provision on long-term sustainability. We provide preliminary findings on the application of CSF in the 30-year-old Icelandic afforestation programme scheme. The perspectives of forest and policy experts, as well as local farmers participating in the scheme, were crucial for assessing the effectiveness of PES scheme performance in Iceland.

scholarly journals No pay, no care? A case study exploring motivations for participation in payments for ecosystem services in Uganda

Oryx ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Environmental Ethic ◽  
Payments For Ecosystem Services ◽  
Conservation Action ◽  
Private Lands ◽  
Profitability Analysis ◽  
Existence Values ◽  
Western Uganda

AbstractA key question in the literature on payments for ecosystem services (PES) is how payments incentivize conservation action and, in particular, how they interact with other motivations, including motivations for environmental stewardship. Related to this question are concerns about the temporal sustainability of PES: what happens when payments cease and whether a ‘no pay, no care’ environmental ethic is fostered. I present empirical research from a case study in western Uganda, where forest-adjacent communities are paid in exchange for planting trees on private lands, for carbon sequestration. The study demonstrates the range of values people have for trees in the landscape and the range of motivations for participating in PES schemes. However, the analysis shows that payments are clearly the main motivation for involvement, except in one area where people are more motivated by aesthetic and existence values for trees. Given the widespread importance of money in motivating involvement, I investigate the profitability of participation over time. This profitability analysis, in combination with qualitative data on perceptions of, and plans for, the future, contributes to understanding the temporal sustainability of PES. I draw on various strands of evidence to argue that the way participants prioritize payments may constitute a threat to the long-term maintenance of PES activities, particularly in situations such as in this case study, in which there is a mismatch between payments and contract length.

The economic potential of payments for ecosystem services in water conservation: a case study in the upper reaches of Shiyang River basin, northwest China

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 445-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeng Tang ◽  
Yulan Shi ◽  
Zhibiao Nan ◽  
Zhongmin Xu
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Northwest China ◽  
Payments For Ecosystem Services ◽  
Economic Potential ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Shiyang River Basin ◽  
Local Farmers

AbstractIn this paper, we conduct an investigation to assess the economic potential of payments for ecosystem services to conserve water through the conversion of land under irrigation into rain-fed land in the upper reaches of the Shiyang River basin, located in northwest China. We use an approach developed by Antle and Valdivia (2006, Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 50: 1–15) to estimate the supply of water. The analysis shows that it is theoretically possible to reduce agricultural water consumption and subsequently increase the water supply, which would aid the prevention of environmental degradation in the middle and lower reaches of the Shiyang River basin. In addition to the conservation of water, considerable income would be generated by local farmers, which would help to alleviate poverty. Furthermore, the analysis also suggests that more complete data on ecosystem services rates, transaction costs and other related factors would be of value for achieving a more comprehensive assessment.

scholarly journals How Do Trade-Offs and Synergies between Ecosystem Services Change in the Long Period? The Case Study of Uxin, Inner Mongolia, China

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (21) ◽  
pp. 6041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhang ◽  
Li ◽  
Buyantuev ◽  
Bao ◽  
Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Inner Mongolia ◽  
Stepwise Regression ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Development And Utilization ◽  
Long Term Trends

Ecosystem services management should often expect to deal with non-linearities due to trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem services (ES). Therefore, it is important to analyze long-term trends in ES development and utilization to understand their responses to climate change and intensification of human activities. In this paper, the region of Uxin in Inner Mongolia, China, was chosen as a case study area to describe the spatial distribution and trends of 5 ES indicators. Changes in relationships between ES and driving forces of dynamics of ES relationships were analyzed for the period 1979–2016 using a stepwise regression. We found that: the magnitude and directions in ES relationships changed during this extended period; those changes are influenced by climate factors, land use change, technological progress, and population growth.

scholarly journals  Legal framework for payments for forest ecosystem services in the Czech Republic

2012 ◽  
Vol 58 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 131-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Ventrubová ◽  
P. Dvořák
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Forest Ecosystem ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Payments For Ecosystem Services ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Forest Ecosystem Services ◽  
New Instrument ◽  
Agriculture Water

Although examples of payments for ecosystem services (PES) can be traced back at least as far as the 1980’s, it is still a relatively new instrument, and the hitherto experience in many parts of the world is not extensive yet, or based on a very long timeframe. In addition, PES is being introduced in more and more sectors (agriculture, water supply, carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, etc.) and in relation to more and more ecosystems (surface water, groundwater, forest, etc.). But such PES can work only with good governance in place, comprising an effective political, legislative as well as institutional system. Nevertheless, an effective introduction of PES system into national legislation calls for an appropriate analysis of the current legal system so that duplications can be excluded and only valuable measures can be added. The main goal of this paper is to analyze if the current legal framework of the Czech Republic provides an appropriate basis for establishing payments for a forest ecosystem services scheme.    

Exploring ecosystem service issues across diverse knowledge domains using Bayesian Belief Networks

2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 681-699 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy Haines-Young
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Social Values ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Bayesian Belief Networks ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Belief Networks ◽  
Knowledge Domains ◽  
Study Materials ◽  
Shared Social Values

The analysis of the relationships between people and nature is complex, because it involves bringing together insights from a range of disciplines, and, when stakeholders are involved, the perspectives and values of different interest groups. Although it has been suggested that analytical-deliberate approaches may be useful in dealing with some of this complexity, the development of methods is still at an early stage. This is particularly so in relation to debates around the concept of ecosystem services where biophysical, social and economic insights need to be integrated in ways that can be accessed by decision-makers. The paper draws on case studies to examine the use of Bayesian Belief Networks (BBNs) as a means of implementing analytical-deliberative approaches in relation to mapping ecosystem services and modelling scenario outcomes. It also explores their use as a tool for representing individual and group values. It is argued that when linked with GIS techniques BBNs allow mapping and modelling approaches rapidly to be developed and tested in an efficient and transparent way, and that they are a valuable scenario-building tool. The case-study materials also show that BBNs can support multicriteria forms of deliberative analysis that can be used to capture stakeholder opinions so that different perspectives can be compared and shared social values identified.

scholarly journals Sustaining Forest Ecosystem Services Through Social Enterprises: Motivations and Challenges from a Case Study in Scotland

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaohui Zhang ◽  
James S. Paterson ◽  
Teppo Hujala
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Forest Ecosystem ◽  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Current Policy ◽  
Forest Ecosystem Services

AbstractBoth the concepts of ecosystem services and social enterprise have gained popularity as means of addressing social and environmental issues in recent years. But while research on ecosystem services has focused on non-governmental organisation and local community-led approaches, the role of social enterprises has received less attention. In Scotland, social enterprises play an important role in delivering social and environmental justice, as well as reaping economic benefits through forest-based practices. These practices are often small-scale and attract participants from local communities. But despite this prominence their motivations and the challenges they face remain largely unexplored. This research attempts to integrate both concepts mainly using field observations and interviews, and to reinforce the findings with the existing literature. It explores the motivations and challenges of social enterprises in sustaining forest ecosystem services through a case study, and discusses their potential within the context of current policy. The research suggests that social enterprises are equipped to tackle a range of social and environmental issues. The enterprise under investigation aims to improve participants’ wellbeing and employability, as well as to provide public education and promote environmental awareness. But these efforts are often hindered by the difficulties of high requirements of the manager and staff members in balancing multiple objectives and most importantly, of managing financial risks. The research concludes that a practical method of assessing cultural ecosystem services as well as the use of innovative funding norms may resolve these challenges, allowing social enterprises to fill the current policy gap and create synergies in the fields of ecosystem services and social enterprise.

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