Payments for ecosystem services (PES) schemes link the beneficiaries, or ‘users’, of nature’s services with the stewards, or ‘providers’, of those services in order to protect or enhance them. Further in formation on PES is available elsewhere on this website, along with summaries of various projects to research and test PES in practice. On 22nd May 2013, the Ecosystems Knowledge Network held a workshop in Bristol to help people involved in the management of specific areas of land or marine habitat to evaluate the prospects for initiating payments for ecosystem services. Learning from practical experience with this mechanism was a core part of the day. A series of short video clips recorded at the event provide perspectives from some of the participants on payments for ecosystem services. This begins with a short introduction of a Best Practice Guide on Payments for Ecosystem Services, which was published by Defra on the day of the workshop.
Introductory presentations
- Payments for ecosystem services: key concepts and principles. Tom Quick and Petrina Rowcroft, URS.
- Developing the potential for payments for ecosystem services - Defra's Action Plan. Colin Smith, Defra.
- Learning from experiences with payments for ecosystem services beyond the UK. Mark Everard (Ecosystems Knowledge Network Steering Group member, and Environment Agency).
Seminar series
- Stimulating investment in carbon, water and biodiversity benefits from peatland restoration. Charles Cowap (Chartered Surveyor and Harper Adams University) and Dr David Smith (South West Water).
- Learning from a payments for ecosystem services pilot in an urban setting: north Hull. Anna MacGillivray, URSUS Consulting.
- Learning from a 'payments for ecosystem services auction' in Cornwall. Dr Ruth Welters and Professor Brett Day, University of East Anglia.
- Learning from the achievements of the Pumlumon Project. Clive Faulkner, Liz Lewis-Reddy and Stephen Hughes, Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust.
- Learning from RSPB experiences with payments for ecosystem services. Jack Rhodes, RSPB.
- Link back to other past Network events
- Link back to tools and guidance on PES
- Link to summaries of various projects to research and test PES in practice.