Mechanism of payments for hydrological ecosystem services in the Watershed of the Piray Miní stream

Abstract

To promote the conservation and forest hydrological restoration of the ecosystems located in the watershed of the Piray Miní stream, which supplies water to Eldorado, economic compensation mechanisms are required for the owners of the properties that provide environmental services to society. The objective of this work is to analyze the situation of environmental and socioeconomic factors, related to the watershed of the Piray Miní stream, and to propose a scheme of payments for hydrological ecosystem services for the conservation and restoration of ecosystems. Regarding the materials and methodologies, background analyzes and interviews were carried out; and their own reflections on the subject. The survey of reference watersheds was carried out with the Geographic Information System and land inspections were carried out. As results, environmental, social and economic factors and compensation mechanisms for ecosystem services in force in Argentina were characterized; proposing the assessment and implementation of a compensation scheme for ecosystem services for the watershed of the Piray Miní stream. It is concluded that it is very necessary to implement the proposals to achieve the conservation of the properties that provide hydrological ecosystem services.