In many developing countries, deforestation and biodiversity loss affect water security, climate resilience, and quality of life. Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs can play a key role by incentivizing conservation through economic mechanisms. This was the topic of the “PES across Latin America” workshop in Mexico.
EfD Central America-Mexico Director Róger Madrigal Ballestero participated in an international workshop on PES programs, held in the Lacandona Jungle, Chiapas, Mexico, on March 4-6, where implementation trajectories were analyzed.
Experts exchanged experiences
The forum aimed to analyze the challenges and opportunities in the development and implementation of PES programs in Mexico and other countries in the region, with a special focus on formulating and strengthening environmental public policies.
The event brought together international experts in environmental economics, conservation policies, and natural resource management from Duke University, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Seattle University, Universidad de los Andes, Purdue University, Indiana University, and Natura y Ecosistemas Mexicanos, among others. The participants exchanged practical experiences, reviewed lessons from academic literature, and explored strategies to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of PES initiatives.
PES is very relevant for the Global South
"PES programs are fundamental tools for ecosystem conservation; however, they do not emerge in a vacuum. Their success depends on proper design, effective governance, stable funding sources, and continuous monitoring to ensure long-term impact," said Róger Madrigal Ballestero.
He shared experiences from designing and implementing PES in Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasizing the key factors that have ensured the long-term permanence of PES programs. He also highlighted how these lessons can offer valuable insights for other regions in the Global South.
New collaborations and future perspectives
EfD-CAM’s participation in this international event opened new opportunities for collaboration with other institutions, facilitating the exploration of joint initiatives to strengthen PES as a viable solution for conserving ecosystem services in emerging economies.