Program Outcomes of Payments for Watershed Services in Brazilian Atlantic Forest: How to Evaluate to Improve Decision-Making and the Socio-Environmental Benefits
In 2014, the Paraíba do Sul River Basin Integration Committee (CEIVAP) established its Pilot Program of Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES), focusing on water resources. The projects from this program share the same goal: to disseminate the use of PES as a tool for land management in watersheds. C...
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MDPI AG
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/9/2441 |
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| author | Flávio Augusto Monteiro dos Santos Marcondes Geraldo Coelho-Junior Jéssica Chaves Cardoso Vanessa Maria Basso André Luis de Paula Marques Eliane Maria Ribeiro da Silva |
| author_facet | Flávio Augusto Monteiro dos Santos Marcondes Geraldo Coelho-Junior Jéssica Chaves Cardoso Vanessa Maria Basso André Luis de Paula Marques Eliane Maria Ribeiro da Silva |
| author_sort | Flávio Augusto Monteiro dos Santos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In 2014, the Paraíba do Sul River Basin Integration Committee (CEIVAP) established its Pilot Program of Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES), focusing on water resources. The projects from this program share the same goal: to disseminate the use of PES as a tool for land management in watersheds. Contemplating 11 municipalities, including 84 landowners, conserving 718.63 ha and restoring 188.58 ha, this program was concluded in April 2020. Reviewing its historical and contextualizing features, we have observed that the outcomes from this program extend beyond these numbers. Here, we propose an evaluation methodology comparing the efficiency, performance, and impact of the PES projects. Based on new indicators that are easy to measure, we have identified key elements that have asymmetrically affected the projects. The complexity of the project scope and the execution of high-cost, and risky interventions on rural properties, have resulted in expensive projects with little tangible outputs. Our results support the upgrade of public policy for investment in ecosystem services by CEIVAP in the Paraíba do Sul watershed. In addition, our results can be more successful by improving the decision-making processes for similar projects in other watersheds. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:41:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-47e830ad11f744a38cb170c29f0d383c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:41:47Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-47e830ad11f744a38cb170c29f0d383c2023-11-20T11:56:09ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412020-08-01129244110.3390/w12092441Program Outcomes of Payments for Watershed Services in Brazilian Atlantic Forest: How to Evaluate to Improve Decision-Making and the Socio-Environmental BenefitsFlávio Augusto Monteiro dos Santos0Marcondes Geraldo Coelho-Junior1Jéssica Chaves Cardoso2Vanessa Maria Basso3André Luis de Paula Marques4Eliane Maria Ribeiro da Silva5Graduate Program in Environmental and Forest Sciences, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica 23897-000, BrazilGraduate Program in Environmental and Forest Sciences, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica 23897-000, BrazilMSc Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9, CanadaDepartment of Silviculture, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica 23897-000, BrazilAssociation for Water Management in the Paraiba do Sul River Basin—AGEVAP, Resende 27520-005, BrazilGraduate Program in Environmental and Forest Sciences, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica 23897-000, BrazilIn 2014, the Paraíba do Sul River Basin Integration Committee (CEIVAP) established its Pilot Program of Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES), focusing on water resources. The projects from this program share the same goal: to disseminate the use of PES as a tool for land management in watersheds. Contemplating 11 municipalities, including 84 landowners, conserving 718.63 ha and restoring 188.58 ha, this program was concluded in April 2020. Reviewing its historical and contextualizing features, we have observed that the outcomes from this program extend beyond these numbers. Here, we propose an evaluation methodology comparing the efficiency, performance, and impact of the PES projects. Based on new indicators that are easy to measure, we have identified key elements that have asymmetrically affected the projects. The complexity of the project scope and the execution of high-cost, and risky interventions on rural properties, have resulted in expensive projects with little tangible outputs. Our results support the upgrade of public policy for investment in ecosystem services by CEIVAP in the Paraíba do Sul watershed. In addition, our results can be more successful by improving the decision-making processes for similar projects in other watersheds.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/9/2441water management indicatorswater governanceriver basin planningnature-based solutions |
| spellingShingle | Flávio Augusto Monteiro dos Santos Marcondes Geraldo Coelho-Junior Jéssica Chaves Cardoso Vanessa Maria Basso André Luis de Paula Marques Eliane Maria Ribeiro da Silva Program Outcomes of Payments for Watershed Services in Brazilian Atlantic Forest: How to Evaluate to Improve Decision-Making and the Socio-Environmental Benefits Water water management indicators water governance river basin planning nature-based solutions |
| title | Program Outcomes of Payments for Watershed Services in Brazilian Atlantic Forest: How to Evaluate to Improve Decision-Making and the Socio-Environmental Benefits |
| title_full | Program Outcomes of Payments for Watershed Services in Brazilian Atlantic Forest: How to Evaluate to Improve Decision-Making and the Socio-Environmental Benefits |
| title_fullStr | Program Outcomes of Payments for Watershed Services in Brazilian Atlantic Forest: How to Evaluate to Improve Decision-Making and the Socio-Environmental Benefits |
| title_full_unstemmed | Program Outcomes of Payments for Watershed Services in Brazilian Atlantic Forest: How to Evaluate to Improve Decision-Making and the Socio-Environmental Benefits |
| title_short | Program Outcomes of Payments for Watershed Services in Brazilian Atlantic Forest: How to Evaluate to Improve Decision-Making and the Socio-Environmental Benefits |
| title_sort | program outcomes of payments for watershed services in brazilian atlantic forest how to evaluate to improve decision making and the socio environmental benefits |
| topic | water management indicators water governance river basin planning nature-based solutions |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/9/2441 |
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