Payment for ecosystem services

PES to promote forest conservation of the Columbian Amazon[1]

The EU is funding a number of projects that finance schemes implementing innovative financing mechanisms in developing countries. For example, the European Union is supporting a new project in Columbia, 'Environmental Governance to Prevent Deforestation and Promote Forest Conservation of the Colombian Amazon', with the aim of contributing to the sustainable financing of protected areas, and the benefits they provide to people, through payments for ecosystem services. The project will help ensure the conservation of the Amazon and the well-being of its peoples, through strengthening indigenous authorities’ role in the creation and governance of adequate mechanisms to ensure a fair system of payments for their contribution to the maintenance of key ecosystem services.

Colombia[2] (2010) 6. Develop and / or improve the efficiency of incentives, so that no serious USTAINABLE useand to promote the sustainable use of natural resources.

1. Having a system of information to set the types of incentives for the conservation of biodiversity.

* In 2008 the National Strategy defined MAVDT Payment for Environmental Services, EconomicAnalysis Group.

2. Establish a system of taxes and incentives imposed on non-sustainable forms of use andpromote or encourage the sustainable use of natural resources.

* Also runs from the 2008 and 2009 with a system of incentives for converting livestock, the CIFreforestation tax exemptions to property tax, income tax exemptions for the use of new forest plantations and new sawmills and renewal of timber plantations, exemptions to the sale ofelectric power generated from wind resources based on deductions for investments inmonitoring and improving the environment, among others.

* The Economic Analysis Group MAVDT (2008) defined the National Strategy for Environmental Services Payment.

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[1] European Union (2011). EU submission of information concerning innovative financial mechanisms, pursuant to decision X/3, A, paragraph 8(c), 29 June 2011

[2] Colombia (2010). Cuarto Informe Nacional ante el Convenio Sobre la Diversidad Biológica, Ministerio del Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial, Agosto de 2010, 240 pp.