Incentives for Ecosystem Services (IES) in the Himalayas: A ‘Cookbook’ for Emerging IES Practitioners in the Region

The previous sections have introduced the concept of Incentives for Ecosystem Services (IES), described how to set up and initiate a successful IES system, and hinted at the need for caution. Indeed, IES systems have been initiated around the world with varying degrees of success, including in the Himalayan region. In the following section we highlight several existing examples of IES in Nepal, Pakistan, India and China. Part IV. Cases The cases cover water management, forest management, and tourism, recreation and hunting. Each case describes the main message, the setting, the service, payment or other incentive, the actors involved, and which steps went well or could be improved in the IES system. These cases provide a variety of examples and approaches to setting up an IES system and underscore that establishing such a system is never a challenge to be taken lightly. IES systems involve long-term collaboration and involvement. Over time, IES systems can be improved, expanded and applied to other places to deepen their impact and ensure ecosystem service benefits continue to flow in perpetuity.

Xihu Wetland

YELLOW RIVER

Y

a

n g t

z e

C H I N A

YANGTSE

RA

a

H

a d d y

w

a

r

r

I

RRAWADDY

MEKONG

SALWEEN Naypyidaw

ANMAR

S

a l

Vientiane

w e e n

LAOS

THAILAND

M e k o n g

Phnom Penh

Figure 5. Case study locations.

33

Incentives for Ecosystem Services (IES) in the Himalayas