Feasibility of Payment for Ecosystem Services in Khageri Sub-Watershed, Chitwan, Nepal

Abstract

The study entitled “Feasibility of payment for ecosystem services in Khageri sub-watershed, Chitwan, Nepal’’ was undertaken in Chitwan district focusing to explore the major ecosystem services and their potential services buyer and seller and to determine willingness to pay for the ecosystem services and willingness to accept for ecosystem services. For this, household survey was done in both upstream and down streams communities to understand people perception on WTP and WTA for ecosystem services. In addition, focus group discussions and key informant interview was done in both upstream and downstream community to identify the major ecosystem services by using the snowball technique and their potential services buyer and service sellers. The study show majority of people of upstream and downstream community around Khageri watershed have strong WTP and WTA for ecosystem services. Thus they have strong WTP and WTA for ecosystem services. Most of the respondents have preferred community group as potential institutions for collecting and providing compensation. Thus, Developing a PES in Khageri sub watershed is socially acceptable and financially feasible. For this the proper institution should be identified and their respective roles should be fixed and developing a national PES policy is needed. Conducting of capacity building and awareness program among the upstream and downstream is required for the successful implementation of PES mechanism.