Payments for Environmental Services in the Comarapa and Quirusillas watersheds

Abstract

The Comarapa and Quirusillas watersheds were identified as among the top three watersheds in Bolivia that are most apt for the development of payments for watershed services systems. Each of the upper watersheds is covered by cloud forest that is threatened by changing land use patterns (notably extensive cattle ranching). Downstream users are highly dependent on dry season water flows to support large areas of irrigated agriculture, but are relatively well off, with Comarapa already counting on a KfW funded dam, and Quirusillas about to begin construction in 2006. If current changes in upper watershed land use continue - i.e. there is continued deforestation - both dams run the risk of siltation reducing their useful lifespan.