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Overview of payment for ecosystem services in Uganda. Telly Eugene Muramira Director Policy Planning and Information. Introduction. Developing countries closely linked to natural resource base
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Overview of payment for ecosystem services in Uganda Telly Eugene Muramira Director Policy Planning and Information
Introduction • Developing countries closely linked to natural resource base • Endowments of minerals, forests, wetlands, fertile soils, wildlife, biodiversity, lakes, rivers, climate and hydropower • Economies are closely linked to ecosystems • Ecosystems provide food, fibre, wood, medicines and energy
Also process and store carbon, and water and other nutrients; and assimilate wastes and purify water • Also regulate water runoff, control floods, soil degradation
Broad categorisations • Provisioning- provide goods including food, fibre, medicines, genetic material • Regulating – regulate the human environment through air quality maintenance etc • Cultural – non material benefits that enrich the quality of life • Supporting – primary production, oxygen etc
Discussion • Definition of the concept and scope for Uganda – what are PESs, how are they generated, managed, enhanced etc; • Are they broadly the benefits people obtain from ecosystems • What does that mean for poverty eradication….can we see money exchange hands??? • Do we have examples in Uganda – see matrix
Examples • Provisioning functions include wildlife conservation partnerships around multiple zoning for food, medicines, firewood, handicrafts etc • Regulatory functions include prototype carbon fund operations (PCF) for projects on emission reductions, joint implementation and CDM and watershed management eg. Ecotrust, West Nile Power,UWA/FACE • Cultural and touristic including ecotourism • Supporting services especially soil formation and nutrient recycling eg National Organic Agriculture Movement
Why so few examples? • New and rather specialised • Product development and marketing just beginning • Requisite conditions for functional markets absent • Lack of definite property rights • Lack of market information to link demand to supply • High transaction costs
What suggestions • Active government support to remove structural problems • Create enabling environment for profit/private sector participation by reforming the policy, legal and institutional set-up • Increase valuation studies to tell us what we have • Link supply and demand-provide market information, reduce transaction costs
Conclusion • New potential to reduce poverty • Enhance economic growth • Demonstrate a clear alliance between government and the private sector • While there is some work being done, information mostly restricted to GoU offices (NEMA, ECOTRUST, MET, UIA) • Need more outreach, information support etc