Lessons on the conditional tenure and river care schemes in Sumberjaya, Indonesia: conditionally in payment for environmental services

Abstract

In the tropics, most PES mechanisms for watershed functions are based on the assumption that such functions are being provided, without clear proof that this is actually the case. However, conditionality is a fundamental component of PES. In order to achieve conditionality, it should be clear what the service being provided is and how it will be evaluated. RUPES has implemented two action research projects in Sumberjaya, Indonesia to address the conditionality issue. In the first project, land tenure for forest land stewardship is conditional on the land management activities of the sellers. The second project involves a more advanced set of indicators, with payments conditional on the results of sediment reduction activities