Description

Abstract: Due to their biodiversity, forests generate a range of products and services that are of economic, social or cultural value to human beings. Natural resource management provisions should ensure the creation and maintenance of these goods and services in the long term. However, unsustainable management practices of forests do not only generate short-term benefits but also considerable costs for society. Payment by the beneficiaries of the services would enable us to internalise external costs and promote sustainable management. Two days of conferences on ‘Forest and water’, on the multifunctionality of forests, on interactions between forests and water, on sustainable resource management, on payments for environmental services, their institutional and economic perspectives, were the basis of this brochure which presents an in-depth analysis of the information exchanged among conference participants and the public. It is intended for readers who work in international development cooperation and assistance in Switzerland and abroad. It offers additional information for local programmes in the field and at policy level.

Acknowledgements

Preface Introduction Forests provide services The role of forests in relation to water Multifunctional management: a variety of contexts and approaches From theory to practice: the difficulty of applying integrated natural resource management The need for appropriate resource management regimes Payment / Compensation for Environmental Services (PES/CES) Conclusion and relevance for development agencies Glossary References

Also available in French