Carbon Markets and Trade: A Compendium for Short Courses in African Forestry 06

This training session introduces payment for ecosystem services (PES). Ecosystem services are benefits humans obtain from nature. The session defines ecosystem services, explains types of ecosystem services, and briefly describes the different classes of ecosystem services. The session further explains the basic concepts of PES, describes different types of PES schemes and provides examples of successful PES programs within the three most common groups of ecosystem services implemented in Africa. Potentials and risks associated with PES are also discussed   Objectives By the end of this session, the learner should be able to:

• Describe ecosystem services;
• Describe payment for ecosystem services;
• Explain types of payment for ecosystem services schemes;
• Analyse potentials and pitfalls in payment for ecosystem services.