PES

Creating Livelihood while preserving Ecosystems

A first-of-its-kind initiative, the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) was launched in Meghalaya in 2022. Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) initiative aimed at addressing the problem of high rates of deforestation due to changes in land use and practices. State departments and agencies identified this issue, prompting action.

To address the problem, state leaders initiated discussions about PES with local community-level leadership across the state in 2021. This engagement built momentum and garnered local buy-in, fostering purpose and leadership in the initiative. Throughout the process, there was regular monitoring of key indicators such as the amount of land protected and effective forest management, allowing for ongoing review and adaptation under the Problem-Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA) approach.

Meghalaya has witnessed rapid changes in the land use and land cover in the last three decades. Urbanisation, mining activity, deforestation, plantations of areca nut and other cash crops have adversely altered the natural landscapes causing ecological problems such as drying of springs, soil erosion, water stress, biodiversity loss etc.

Water scarcity in summer months is being faced by increasing number of villages and towns. In this situation, the concept of ‘Payment of ecosystem Services’ can be an effective strategy for motivating the community people to adopt sustainable land use practices for which they are provided monetary incentives based on their adherence to the land management prescriptions and performance-based ecosystem improvement works, which are verified.

The inception report presents a framework for introducing PES approach in the State for addressing the environmental concerns like catchment area degradation by prevention of jhumming, forest conservation, reforestation of degraded forest areas, soil and water conservation measures etc.

Salient features of the proposed
PES framework for the State:

  • In the first phase, five activities are proposed to be covered under the PES scheme
  • Transition from ‘Jhum’ to improved agriculture practices
  • Conservation of existing natural forest
  • Reforestation
  • Afforestation
  • Soil & Water Conservation Measures
  • Operational details like, area of operation, eligibility of persons to avail PES, eligible activities, measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) and implementation process has been outlined.
  • Implementation framework includes identifying a ‘Designated Implementing Agency (DIA), selection of PES Field Associates (PFA) from the youths from the Communities, training of community persons participating in the PES scheme designated as PES Scheme Participant (PSP), a draft format of the agreement between the DIA and PSP.
  • Indicators for verification of the prescribed sustainable management practices by the PSP and confirm additionality have been listed.
  • An indicative remuneration norm for the payments after the verification of the prescribed management practices has also been proposed.

540 square kilometers

have been covered out of the targeted 1000 square kilometers

The initiative has shown significant impact, protecting over

10,000 square kilometers

of community and private forests

The Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) program aims to encompass

500 square kilometers

of these forests within the next five years, benefiting approximately

60,000 households

It is anticipated that around

300,000 individuals

constituting 9% of the population, will directly benefit from this program. The verified area covered under Phase 1 of the initiative reflects tangible progress toward achieving conservation objectives.