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