Abstract
This paper reviews the consideration of the operation of agricultural water control structures (AWCSs) as sources of bundles of ecosystem services (ESs) and the subsequent design of payment for ecosystem service (PES) programs around these ESs. It is thought that PES schemes for AWCSs can complement irrigation service fees (ISFs) in funding the operation and maintenance of irrigation schemes. Case studies from Japan, the United States of America and Tanzania, representing a variety of socio-economic, geographic and climatic conditions, are discussed. In countries where the PES programs had legal backing, they showed evidence of sustainability and success. The measurement of marginal ESs flows from AWCSs proved to be one of the challenges to PES programs. There is a need to improve the measurement and modelling of hydro-meteorological and water quality parameters to ensure the transparency and success of the programs. In general, there was a realisation that ESs flow from irrigated agriculture, but there was no systematic design of PES programs around these ESs flows. An opportunity is seen to complement ISF through the design of PES programs around ES flows from the operation of AWCSs.
Highlights
The concept of “Ecosystem Services (ESs)” is a novel front in nature conservation
We have explored the existence of such schemes globally, the challenges facing them and good practices from existing schemes and seek to introduce our idea of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) from the operation of agricultural water control structures (AWCSs) if there is no evidence of their existence and strategies to make PES schemes from the operation of AWCSs more ubiquitous
Payments were allocated according to the area of land that was converted to an identified Sustainable Land Management (SLM) Practice and the type of land use practice adopted
Summary
The concept of “Ecosystem Services (ESs)” is a novel front in nature conservation. It emerged in the 1970s, gaining wider recognition in the decades that followed [1]. A [14], a UN report revealed the valuation of hydraulic infrastructure and other non-conwell-maintained paddy field, which is a hydraulic structure, modifies hydrologic processes sumptive uses of water as being flawed [6] It is remarkable how ESs from AWCSs such as peak discharge reduction (flood reduction) and aquifer recharge, provides grain are not widely considered in agricultural water management strategies. PES from AWCSs programs can complement ISF to ensure the sustainability of irrigation and drainage projects in agricultural production and the provision of ESs. Further, we think PES from AWCSs can be successful because there is documented evidence of a willingness to pay for these services. We have explored the existence of such schemes globally, the challenges facing them and good practices from existing schemes and seek to introduce our idea of PES from the operation of AWCSs if there is no evidence of their existence and strategies to make PES schemes from the operation of AWCSs more ubiquitous
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