Evaluating the environmental impact of payments for ecosystem services in Coatepec (Mexico) using remote sensing and on-site interviews

• Published in: Environmental conservation Vol. 38; no. 4; pp. 426 - 434
• Main Authors: SCULLION, JASON, THOMAS, CRAIG W., VOGT, KRISTINA A., PÉREZ-MAQUEO, OCTAVIO, LOGSDON, MILES G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.12.2011; CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
• Subjects: Biodiversity conservation; Cloud forests; Coating; Coniferous forests; Conservation; conservation additionality; Conservation programs; Deforestation; Ecosystem services; Ecosystems; Environmental conservation; Environmental economics; Environmental impact; Environmental protection; Forest conservation; Forest cover; Forests; interviews; Landowners; Landsat; Mexico; mixed-methods research; Monitoring; Municipalities; Natural resources conservation; Payments; payments for ecosystem services; Remote sensing; surveys; upland forests; Mexico; Coatepec Mexico; conservation additionality; Mexico; forest conservation; mixed-methods research; payments for ecosystem services
• ISSN: 0376-8929; 1469-4387; 1469-4387
• DOI: 10.1017/S037689291100052X

Over the last decade, hundreds of payments for ecosystem services (PES) programmes have been initiated around the world, but evidence of their environmental benefits remains limited. In this study, two PES programmes operating in the municipality of Coatepec (Mexico) were evaluated to assess their effectiveness in protecting the region's endangered upland forests. Landsat satellite data were analysed to assess changes in forest cover before and after programme implementation using a difference-in-differences estimator. Additionally, surveys and interviews were conducted with local residents and a subset of PES programme participants to evaluate the programmes’ social and environmental impacts, particularly the effect of the programmes on landowner behaviour. The remote-sensing data show that deforestation was substantially lower on properties receiving PES payments compared to properties not enrolled in the programmes, but the programmes did not prevent the net loss of forests within Coatepec. Moreover, the on-site interviews suggest that the payments may have had little impact on deforestation rates, and that other factors contributed to the conservation of forests in PES properties. These findings suggest that risk-targeted payments, robust monitoring and enforcement programmes, and additional conservation initiatives should be included in all PES schemes to ensure environmental effectiveness.