LIFE ProForPES project: promoting effective payments for forest ecosystem services
Etifor | Valuing Nature
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NEWS FROM THE PROJECT
The State of Payment for Forest Ecosystem Services (PES) in Europe
Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) in Europe is a developing but not yet fully established practice. This article delves into the current situation, integration into EU policies, and the initial project findings from an extensive analysis of PES cases across Europe.
ProForPES Project:
The ProForPES project aims to investigate the current status of PES in Europe, with a focus on forest ecosystems, and to provide recommendations on how to better integrate PES into the EU policy framework and State aid financial structures. This goal will be achieved through:
Current situation
The project researches demonstrate that PES schemes in Europe are present but predominantly in limited scope. They are frequently applied in localized or pilot projects rather than being widely adopted. Despite the potential benefits, these schemes have not yet become a mainstream approach within the European Union's policy framework.
EU Policy Integration
A thorough analysis of PES schemes within the EU policies related to agriculture, forests, environment, and biodiversity reveals a mixed picture:
This indicates that while there is recognition of market-based approaches, PES is not yet a prominent feature within EU strategies.
Findings from PES Case Studies
The project has collected and deeply analyzed 116 PES cases using a newly developed framework aimed at identifying strengths and opportunities. This comprehensive analysis provides a detailed understanding of how PES schemes operate and where they might be effectively expanded or improved.
Stakeholder Consultation
ProForPES’s work is supported by a robust scenario-based consultation process involving key stakeholders. OngoingRecent surveys targeting EU and state member policy experts aim to uncover the barriers to PES integration and identify potential opportunities. This collaborative approach ensures the further development of comprehensive and practical recommendations.
Policy and Business Recommendations
The insights gained from analyzing EU policies and financial programs will be instrumental in crafting informed policy and business recommendations. These recommendations aim to enhance the integration and potential of PES within the broader EU context, leveraging the strengths and addressing the challenges identified in the case studies.
Stay tuned!
Attending IUFRO Conference 2024
From 24 to 29 June the project team attended the 26th IUFRO - International Union of Forest Research Organizations World Congress, which took place in Stockholm. This is the world's most important forestry conference, which brings together thousands of experts every five years to promote cooperation in forestry research.
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GET IN TOUCH WITH US
Share Your Knowledge on PES Schemes
Do you know any relevant examples of PES schemes or have insights and experiences to share? Any projects involving PES schemes? We’d love to hear from you! Write to us at [email protected] and we’ll gather all your input.
Upcoming Online Workshops
Are you interested and/or experienced in PES mechanisms? We are organizing workshops for co-designing final guidelines and recommendations for EU institutions. Early next year, policy scenarios will be drafted and then discussed, improved, and validated during a series of online workshops organized by the University of Padova, the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development and Etifor with a large number of stakeholders. This scenario-based policy assessment process will explore the future integration of PES in further EU policy programs.
Stay tuned!
OTHER NEWS
News from the world of PES
Sven Wunder from our partner EFI has recently published policy briefs titled: "How can we make payments for environmental services work?" Take a read if you want to delve deeper into the mechanisms and effectiveness of PES. Sven Wunder has contributed significantly to defining and refining the concept of PES, and in creating a clear and operational definition that distinguishes PES from other conservation financing mechanisms.?
Learn more about the project at www.lifeproforpes.eu
Project partners: Università degli Studi di Padova (UNIPD) / University of Padua , European Forest Institute , Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde , Etifor | Valuing Nature , Universit?t für Bodenkultur Wien