Payments for Environmental Services in

South Africa

Mira Inbar

Forest Trends

Nicola King

CSIR, Division of

Water, Environment and Forest Technology

Status of PES activity in RSA

• PES is on the agenda

• Planning and design– Limited implementation

• Focus primarily on water and carbon with emerging interest in biodiversity

• Mixed focus on private and public deals – Public: the working for water initiatives– Private: projects in planning

Opportunities for PES in RSA

• Mapping areas of risk and opportunity• Potential Buyers:

– Developing the business case for the private sector

– Awareness and value added

• High value environmental services:– Watershed services (limitations of Water Act)

Gaps for PES in RSA

• Good science (water) but some gaps (biodiversity) ,

• Building the business case,• Understanding the costs and benefits

of options,• Identifying and linking buyers and

sellers, • Monitoring and evaluation• Action learning

Thank you

minbar@forest-trends.org

naking@csir.co.za