For services rendered? modeling hydrology and livelihoods in Andean payments for environmental services schemes

In the Andes, demand for water is growing and upland land-use changes are increasing. Water quality, quantity and seasonal flow have thus also become environmental services with potential monetary value. Yet, currently the region’s pioneer PES schemes are not paying for measured environmental servic...

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Autores principales: Quinton, M., Wunder, Sven, Estrada, R.D.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2009
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/20242
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author Quinton, M.
Wunder, Sven
Estrada, R.D.
author_browse Estrada, R.D.
Quinton, M.
Wunder, Sven
author_facet Quinton, M.
Wunder, Sven
Estrada, R.D.
author_sort Quinton, M.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description In the Andes, demand for water is growing and upland land-use changes are increasing. Water quality, quantity and seasonal flow have thus also become environmental services with potential monetary value. Yet, currently the region’s pioneer PES schemes are not paying for measured environmental services, but for proxy land uses thought to provide the(se) service(s). Hydrological modeling makes explicit the tacit causal relationships and tests underlying assumptions. Ideally, when combined with an economic analysis of land-use alternatives, this could inform decision makers on how much to pay for different interventions in different spatial locations. This paper focuses on two Andean watersheds: Moyobamba (Peru) and Pimampiro (Ecuador). In the first case, amunicipal water company is preparing a payment for environmental services (PES) scheme to reduce upstream sediment loads. In the second, a similar conservation-oriented municipal PES scheme has operated since 2000, but the hydrological linkages have never been tested. Applying the Soil & Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), we identify in both watersheds biophysically critical areas for service delivery, and compare services for current land uses with change scenarios: deforestation, reforestation, live barriers, and agroforestry. We then use the ECOSAUT optimization model to predict net economic benefits for service providers. In Moyobamba, switching to shade-grown coffee would halve sediment yields, and increase significantly farmers’ economic benefits. This requires high up-front investment, but the willingness to pay of water users in Moyobamba town may suffice to cover the upfront costs. In Pimampiro, resumed deforestation would increase sediments by >50% and reduce dry-season flow by 0.5%, thus reinforcing the rationale of the existing PES scheme, focused on conserving native forests and grasslands. Copyright 2009 Elsevier.
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spelling CGSpace202422025-01-24T14:20:30Z For services rendered? modeling hydrology and livelihoods in Andean payments for environmental services schemes Quinton, M. Wunder, Sven Estrada, R.D. watershed protection natural resources management services payments for environmental services poverty In the Andes, demand for water is growing and upland land-use changes are increasing. Water quality, quantity and seasonal flow have thus also become environmental services with potential monetary value. Yet, currently the region’s pioneer PES schemes are not paying for measured environmental services, but for proxy land uses thought to provide the(se) service(s). Hydrological modeling makes explicit the tacit causal relationships and tests underlying assumptions. Ideally, when combined with an economic analysis of land-use alternatives, this could inform decision makers on how much to pay for different interventions in different spatial locations. This paper focuses on two Andean watersheds: Moyobamba (Peru) and Pimampiro (Ecuador). In the first case, amunicipal water company is preparing a payment for environmental services (PES) scheme to reduce upstream sediment loads. In the second, a similar conservation-oriented municipal PES scheme has operated since 2000, but the hydrological linkages have never been tested. Applying the Soil & Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), we identify in both watersheds biophysically critical areas for service delivery, and compare services for current land uses with change scenarios: deforestation, reforestation, live barriers, and agroforestry. We then use the ECOSAUT optimization model to predict net economic benefits for service providers. In Moyobamba, switching to shade-grown coffee would halve sediment yields, and increase significantly farmers’ economic benefits. This requires high up-front investment, but the willingness to pay of water users in Moyobamba town may suffice to cover the upfront costs. In Pimampiro, resumed deforestation would increase sediments by >50% and reduce dry-season flow by 0.5%, thus reinforcing the rationale of the existing PES scheme, focused on conserving native forests and grasslands. Copyright 2009 Elsevier. 2009 2012-06-04T09:13:11Z 2012-06-04T09:13:11Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/20242 en Quinton, M., Wunder, S., Estrada, R.D. 2009. For services rendered? modeling hydrology and livelihoods in Andean payments for environmental services schemes . Forest Ecology and Management 258 (9) :1871–1880. ISSN: 0378-1127.
spellingShingle watershed protection
natural resources management
services
payments for environmental services
poverty
Quinton, M.
Wunder, Sven
Estrada, R.D.
For services rendered? modeling hydrology and livelihoods in Andean payments for environmental services schemes
title For services rendered? modeling hydrology and livelihoods in Andean payments for environmental services schemes
title_full For services rendered? modeling hydrology and livelihoods in Andean payments for environmental services schemes
title_fullStr For services rendered? modeling hydrology and livelihoods in Andean payments for environmental services schemes
title_full_unstemmed For services rendered? modeling hydrology and livelihoods in Andean payments for environmental services schemes
title_short For services rendered? modeling hydrology and livelihoods in Andean payments for environmental services schemes
title_sort for services rendered modeling hydrology and livelihoods in andean payments for environmental services schemes
topic watershed protection
natural resources management
services
payments for environmental services
poverty
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/20242
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AT wundersven forservicesrenderedmodelinghydrologyandlivelihoodsinandeanpaymentsforenvironmentalservicesschemes
AT estradard forservicesrenderedmodelinghydrologyandlivelihoodsinandeanpaymentsforenvironmentalservicesschemes