Chapter 5 - A Voluntary Model of Payment for Environmental Services: Lessons From Ba Be District, Bac Kan Province of Vietnam

Abstract

This study was carried out in 2014 to identify advantages and disadvantages of the voluntary payment for environmental services (PES) model in Ba Be District, Bac Kan Province of Vietnam. Lessons learned from the model can be used to design future PES programs in Vietnam. Several probabilistic risk assessment tools were employed to collect data in the field. The research results showed that stakeholders involved in the model were identified including environmental services (ES) suppliers, environmental users, and middlemen. An operational mechanism for PES implementation was also built and two trail payments were paid in 2013. However, the model was a failure in 2014, as it identified inappropriate ES users, unsuitable level of payment and payment mechanism, and lack of stakeholders’ ability to further undertake the process. To successfully implement future PES programs, appropriate stakeholders must be identified, a suitable PES payment cost and operational mechanism must be established, and capacity building for stakeholders must be included.