Payments for biodiversity conservation

PES schemes provide direct and conditional incentives to land users to adopt biodiversity-friendly practices. The push for such payment schemes comes not only from increased recognition of the role played by biodiversity in ecosystem functioning but also from heightened awareness of the fragility of most ecosystems. However, not all payment schemes secure the same service. Some payments are made to gain private access to particular species or habitats, while others are for buying or leasing development rights under either land lease schemes or tradable development rights systems.