Tuesday, August 13, 2019: 9:00 AM
L007/008, Kentucky International Convention Center
Ping Li, Institute of Grassland Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot, China
Background/Question/Methods Pay for Ecosystem Services (PES) is becoming a popular tool all over the world to conserve the natural ecosystems like forests and grasslands. The effect of these projects depends largely on the compliance of the local participants. These local stakeholders, especially those in developing countries and rural regions who barely have any other living resources have to game between resource dependent production and ecosystem conservation activities. Their decisions and performances determine the effectiveness of the PES projects. Chinese government input over 20 billion dollars in grassland PES projects during last 20 years through cash subsidies, infrastructures, et al. together with poverty alleviation and rural revitalization projects. A case study was carried out to evaluate the influences of the PES projects in local production, welfare, and grassland ecosystem in Inner Mongolia, China. The results will add our knowledge in PES projects in developing countries and help us understand better the sustainable development pattern of those undeveloped ecological vulnerable regions.
Results/Conclusions Local welfare and regional economics increased apparently during the implementation of the PES projects. The small household production was affected and changed toward a way that less grassland dependent. The trend of grassland degradation is under control and vegetation restoration is becoming the keynotes of grassland managers. The experiences from China’s grassland eco-compensation projects provide learnings and lessons for other countries in three aspects: first, decreasing the local residents’ resource dependence by expanding their accesses to other industries are more effective than banning or limiting their production with current resources. Second, proper indicators in evaluation are critical in the success of PES projects, in which both ecological and social variables should be inclusive. Third, enhanced property rights in flexible way plays important role in enhancing the stakeholders’ initiatives in participation PES projects. The outlet and prospect of eco-compensation will lie in the diversified market-oriented compensation.
