Listening to locals on payments for environmental services

Journal of Environmental Management
Volume 91, Issue 5, Pages 1139-1149, May 2010  

This research explores perspectives of poor people living in a National Park in Vietnam, where introduction of PES is being considered. In-depth interviews and workshops were conducted – with strong emphasis on the use of visual techniques, to help facilitate learning processes and provide insight into local perspectives. The findings also reveal three main requirements important in design of pro-poor PES: (1) Thorough scoping studies for ensuring that schemes are based on sound understanding of potential providers' perspectives and context. (2) Such studies should emphasise qualitative research and draw on participatory tools, to facilitate open dialogue and co-learning by researchers and participants. (3) Policy makers should consider designing hybridized schemes, i.e., in which PES concepts are combined with integrated conservation and development.

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