Description

This article discusses Costa Rica s national payments for environmental services (PES) program (the PSA program).The program design is described and strengths, weaknesses, and areas of progress are assessed.

Contents:

1. Introduction 2. Costa Rica’s PSA program 3. Who pays for the PSA program? 3.1. Water service payments 3.2. Biodiversity payments 3.3. Carbon payments 3.4. Landscape payments 3.5. Summary 4. How are service providers paid? 5. Impact of the PSA program 6. Has the program affected forest cover? 7. Have environmental services been generated? 7.1. Water services 7.2. Biodiversity conservation services 7.3. Carbon sequestration services 8. How permanent are the benefits? 9. Does the PSA program benefit the poor? 10. Conclusions