Operationalizing payments for ecosystem services for pastoralists in rangeland settings
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Citation
Linda Pappagallo. (12/4/2018). Operationalizing payments for ecosystem services for pastoralists in rangeland settings. Nairobi, Kenya: International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).
Abstract
Payments for ecosystem services (PES) schemes are gaining popularity as an environmental and development policy
tool. Spurred by environmental motives, different financial and non-financial incentive schemes are designed to create
positive social and environmental impact. Although the experience of PES implementation is relatively significant in the
agricultural, forestry and to a certain degree marine sector, the application of PES for pastoralists in rangeland settings
is limited. Furthermore, there is very little focus in the existing literature on the challenges of operationalizing PES for
pastoralists.
This study aims to jump from the theory of PES implementation to practice by examining the trade-offs, barriers and
opportunities that can be expected when operationalizing PES schemes for pastoralists in rangeland settings.
The study follows a framework that encompasses the complexities of pastoral systems—the political, legal,
institutional, social, environmental and financial aspects that determine PES scheme design—and allows a critical
examination of these factors.
While PES schemes may offer an opportunity to bridge pastoral livelihood systems with sustainable rangeland
ecosystem service provision, the variability of its impact as an effective tool calls for scrupulous context-specific
assessments. An outcome of this study has been a preliminary scoping protocol, designed to guide practitioners to
comprehensively unearth and evaluate the risks and opportunities of operationalizing PES schemes in different pastoral
contexts. This study is particularly interesting for practitioners as it views PES implementation from a practical angle
and offers resources, case-study examples, tools and complementary solutions to help overcome some of the PES
implementation challenges.
