Abstract
Financing protected areas is crucial for guaranteeing the flow of ecosystem services (ES) provided by natural and semi-natural ecosystems, which are the basis of human well-being. In the last two decades, together with traditional conservation tools, innovative instruments, such as PES (Payment for Ecosystem Services), have been proposed and implemented all over the world in order to improve management effectiveness in biodiversity conservation. In this paper we identified and categorized 33 PES case studies in 19 Natura 2000 sites developing the hypothesis that a PES approach may contribute to improving the effectiveness of conservation actions at different spatial and administrative levels. We found that in these areas, farmers and foresters often allow the maintenance of natural and semi-natural ecosystems through their economic activity. Through PES schemes their important role can be formally acknowledged, both in environmental and economic terms. PES schemes are also a tool for involving more stakeholders, particularly local companies, residents and tourists in conservation actions. So PES can actually improve Natura 2000 sites’ management and increase the availability of financial resources in favor of conservation actions. However, careful attention must to be paid to the supporting role of public authorities, generally crucial for the success of a PES.
Highlights
At the Rio +20 conference it was emphasized that the transition to a “Green Economy” should necessarily put the maintenance and restoration of Natural Capital as its main pillar for sustainable development
In this paper we identified and categorized 33 Payments for Ecosystem Services” (PES) case studies in 19 Natura 2000 sites developing the hypothesis that a PES approach may contribute to improving the effectiveness of conservation actions at different spatial and administrative levels
Rascawseell as how situadfifeesctasntdhecotmhrpeaeretdyptoescofntCroalpnitoanl-(PNESatsuirteasl, PEEcoSnmomechicanainsmd sCaurletuprraolm). isAinsgwfoerfoadudnrdesfsrionmg our environmental issues and generating new funding, tools and arguments in favour of biodiversity case studies and compared to control non-PES sites, PES mechanisms are promising for addressing environmental issues and generating new funding, tools and arguments in favour of biodiversity conservation [7,13,32,33]
Summary
At the Rio +20 conference it was emphasized that the transition to a “Green Economy” should necessarily put the maintenance and restoration of Natural Capital as its main pillar for sustainable development. As some authors have highlighted [9], this theoretical definition is, difficult to apply in the field and it often requires adjustments depending on the specific context of application Due to this limitation, Muradian et al [10] have proposed another definition focused on the fact that ES are generally public goods and PES is a tool to internalize environmental externalities. Muradian et al [10] have proposed another definition focused on the fact that ES are generally public goods and PES is a tool to internalize environmental externalities Based on this interpretation, a PES is the creation of incentives for the provision of environmental goods and services, designed to change individual and collective behavior that would otherwise lead to the exploitation of natural resources and ecosystems. In this case PES are conceived of as a transfer of resources among social actors in order to create incentives for making individual and collective decisions on land use with the public interest in natural resource management
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