ABSTRACT

Forestry, agroforestry and agricultural systems provide a wide range of ecosystem services, among which biodiversity, carbon sequestering and soil erosion prevention are extremely valuable. However, landowners, both private and governmental, do not receive financial retribution from society for providing these services. The simple concept of applying fair trade concepts to the supply and use of ecosystem services has led to the creation of payment for environmental services (PES) schemes, established in several areas throughout the world. At present, many of those programmes are heavily supported by donations from international organizations and companies in search of high impact and visible initiatives regarding social responsibility and the enhancement of corporate reputation. Some programmes receive considerable governmental funding, resources which, in some cases, are obtained through loans from institutions such as the World Bank, which in the long run must be paid back to the granting agency by the taxpayers of the recipient country, as is the case in Costa Rica. This chapter questions the sustainability of PES programmes in Costa Rica under the current funding model and explores the possibility of leveraging such initiatives through contributions of common citizens, whether they are locally based or members of the international community. Common citizens are considered a new and robust source of funding for PES schemes.