US Forest Service

1. US Forest Service Observations and Ideas for Payment for Ecosystem Services in Central Asia

2. US Forest Service Field Trip • Examination of representative watershed in Central Asia – The Talgar River • Water Quality and Payment for Ecosystem Services on the Talgar River in Kazakhstan • Almaty Nature Reserve • Ile Alatau National Park • Agency for Irrigation System Management

3. Key Elements of Payment for Ecosystem Services • Driver of degradation of water quality or quantity • Identification of management activities to improve water management or watershed health • Buyers and sellers • Price or payment amount • Verification and Monitoring • Contracts

4. Water Quality and Quantity Issues in Central Asia • What do you think are the major watershed issues in Central Asia?

5. Water Quality and Quantity Issues in Central Asia • What is your vision for watershed health and water quality and management?

6. Water Quality and Quantity Issues in Central Asia • How do you get there?

7. Management Activities to Improve Watershed Health • Grazing and Range Management • Fire Management and Fuels Treatment • Road Construction and Maintenance • Restoration of Riparian Areas • Soil and Water Conservation on Farmland • Invasive Species Management

8. Guidelines for grazing and range management plans • Rotation of grazing • Management of bedding grounds and watering sites • Maintain riparian buffers • Pasture improvement (weed removal) • Protect springs and water sources

9. Fire management and prevention plans • Education • Identifying areas of high fire risk • Prioritize management or treatment to areas of high fire risk • Use treatment to protect critical riparian areas and watersheds

10. Road Construction and Maintenance • Improving construction to reduce impact on streams and rivers • Proper construction of culverts to reduce erosion • Ensure proper road materials and design

11. Forest Management to enhance carbon sequestration • Reforestation • Afforestation • Avoided conversion of forests • Longer rotation cycle • Agroforestry

12. Restoration of riparian ecosystems • Restoring natural stream channel • Planting native vegetation on stream banks to reduce runoff • Protecting riparian buffers from grazing and agricultural uses • Reducing soil compaction

13. Soil and Water Conservation on Farmland • Reduce runoff and pollution caused by fertilizers • Encourage agroforestry and multi-story planting • Efficient irrigation practices

14. Invasive Species Management • Education • Prevention • Weed-free hay • Ensuring visitors do not introduce species • Control • Monitoring

15. Summary and Conclusions • A wealth of management activities available to improve watershed health and water quality and quantity • Applicability in Central Asia • Pilot projects • Success in absence of regulation • Well-designed to address resource need and incentive improved management

16. Local Scale: Community Watershed Management India - Sukhomajri • Grazing and tree felling was compromising a downstream water supply (Chandigarh) • Villagers compensated to shift grazing from watershed hills and apply soil/water conserving practices on farmland • Payment mechanisms: • portion of water rights fees • in kind: access to other grazing areas • Siltation fell by 95%, $200,000 savings • Agricultural productivity increased 500% for wheat, 400% for maize, 30% for milk

17. Silvopastoral: Forest Grazing Project Columbia, Costa Rica and Nicaragua • Goal: reduce the impact of cattle farming on water quality • Cattle farmers paid to plant trees and live fences • Increased filtration, reduced runoff • Co-benefits: carbon sequestration, biodiversity • Payments • In kind: technical assistance and training • Annual payment based on land use practice score • Maximum payment: $6,000 per farm over 4 years • Funding: Carbon and biodiversity offsets • Facilitated by World Bank, GEF, FAO, in-country intermediaries

18. Natural Park Example Mt. Kanla-on, Philippines • Kanla-on Spring Water Plant supports farmers in the park to implement agroforestry activities to protect the quality of its bottled water • In-kind payments • Tree saplings and nurseries • Technical training in agroforestry • Investment in social development projects (access road, school, medical clinic)

19. PES Sustainability • Secure demand in advance • Identify where management improvements are needed and why • Consult with buyers and sellers while defining the scheme • Base payments on quality of service delivery (not one size fits all) • Diversify fund (user payments, possible carbon or biodiversity credits) • Verify compliance • Track and monitor over time

20. Thank you! • Questions???