Socio-technical assessment of payment for environmental services (PES) scheme : a case study of Kulekhani Watershed, Nepal | |
| Author | Adhikaree, Karuna |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.NR-10-07 |
| Subject(s) | Natural resources--Nepal--Kulekhani Watershed--Management--Environmental aspects |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Natural Resources Management, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. NR-10-07 |
| Abstract | Payment of Environmental Services is a newly introduced concept in Nepal. It is a market-basedtool primarily to improve conservation, limit negative externalities and promote positive ones. In developing countries, it is taken as the tool for poverty reduction as well. Several organizations have been conducting research on PESin Nepalrelated issues but the PES scheme of Kulekhani is the only one established scheme in Nepal. In Kulekhani, PES has been implemented since 2006 under the project RUPES which aims to alleviate poverty along with enhancing conservation activities of the upstream communities. The present research contributes to assess existing PES scheme based on the socio-economic information and public perception and awareness linking with the livelihood system to understand the effectiveness of existing PES.From the methodological aspects, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, household survey and observation methods were adopted to collect data from the field. Checklists were developed to perform key informant interviewsand focus group discussions whereas semi structuredquestionnaire was formulated to perform household survey. The data then was analyzed quantitatively for socio-economic status of sampled households and qualitatively for perception and awareness analysis on PES scheme.The research argues on the effectiveness of PES on community livelihoods as the service providers raising four main striking issues: a) service providers are unaware of the fact of transferring incentive for their contribution although they are aware of what they are providing as environmental services, b) all the stakeholders are not equally treated there by undermining the role of major two stakeholders; NEA and CFUGs, c) livelihood system of the watershed people is natural resource-based and people are very willing to conserve forest, but unfortunately the incentives money has been invested in rural infrastructure development which might causenegative environmental effects, andd) almost all of the stakeholders are misguided by the concept of PES. Research further strongly recommends measures to overcome those issues in future and to formulate specific policy regarding PES which would help to strengthen linkages between PES, conservation, and social benefits in Nepal. |
| Year | 2010 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. NR-10-07 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Natural Resources Management (NRM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Perret, Sylvain Roger |
| Examination Committee(s) | Shivakoti, Ganesh P.;Routray, Jayant Kumar |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2010 |