Environmental services payments in Central America: Putting theory into practice

This presentation introduces the concept of water services and the need for payments for environmental services (PES). Current World Bank projects (implemented or under development) that are using PES approaches are listed. Diagrams illustrate the process of developing a PES project, which requires (1) understanding the science and economics involved, (2) developing a mechanism to capture the benefits, and (3) paying the service providers. Several case studies of project development from Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, and Venezuela provide examples of the steps in this process.