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Payment for Ecosystem Services, Environmental Taxation and Environmental Management: Cases from Evidence Based Policy Making and Global to Local Benefit Sharing Schemes

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2021) | Viewed by 16368

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Prof. Dr. Ryo Kohsaka

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Guest Editor

Department of Social and Human Environment, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Furo-cho Chikusa-ku D2-1, Aichi 464-8601, Japan
Interests: resource management; forest policy; ecological economics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Yuta Uchiyama

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Guest Editor

Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, 3-11 Tsurukabuto, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
Interests: urban regional management; GIS; land-use dynamics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is our pleasure to invite researchers in the fields of rural development, environmental economics, agriculture and forestry sciences, urban/agricultural planning, and ecology with a multidisciplinary approach to submit papers to this Special Issue.

We welcome submissions on sustainable management of consumption and production of forest and agricultural resources. The theoretical topics will include payment for ecosystem services (PES), environmental taxation, forest transition, pollution removal, valuations, relational values for communities, and benefit sharing schemes, such as geographical indications (GIs) and environmental taxation in the tourism sectors. Those schemes are related to traditional ecological knowledge that is embedded in local places and relational values. We highlight innovative approached including market mechanism and institutional right-based approaches that enable benefit sharing both from global and local perspectives in the era of transitions. The interlinkages of drivers are foreseen to be examined in light of resource changes with populational, social, and economic changes (such as empirical applicability of environmental Kuznets curves or forest transitions). Emerging concepts such as nature’s contribution to people (NCP) and the interactions of material and nonmartial contributions are also examined in their complementarity to ecosystem services. In terms of sustainable consumption and production, we will focus on the targets and indicators of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and post-2020 Biodiversity Targets.

Furthermore, we include in the scope rural areas and urban areas, where different types of policies and actions for sustainable resource management are implemented. The resilience of local communities which produce forestry and agricultural products depends on the networks of production and consumption. Considering the transformative changes in rural and urban areas in the different regions of the world, the innovative schemes for resource managements are highlighted in this Special Issue, in addition to existing institutions such as product-level GIs and landscape-level agricultural heritage and related regional designations such as the UNESCO Heritage Systems, globally important agricultural heritage systems (GIAHS), the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB), and other measures.

Prof. Dr. Ryo Kohsaka
Dr. Yuta Uchiyama
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Innovative financial mechanism
Environmental tax
Product branding
Place
Benefit sharing
Traditional ecological knowledge

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1138 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Participation of Local People in the Payment for Forest Environmental Services Program: A Case Study in Central Vietnam

by Hoang Phan Bich Ngoc, Takahiro Fujiwara, Seiji Iwanaga and Noriko Sato

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12731; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212731 - 17 Nov 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1583

Abstract

In 2010, Vietnam implemented the payment for forest environmental services (PFES) program that was expected to bring additional income to local people and improve the efficiency of forest protection. However, factors affecting the motivation to participate in PFES have rarely been examined. The objectives of this study were to (1) identify factors that influence local people’s participation in PFES, (2) examine how local people participating in the PFES program were involved in decision-making in the Thua Thien Hue Province, and (3) assess PFES impact on local people. We conducted a field survey of 32 households at the study site. We found no difference in the access to PFES between poor and non-poor households. Participation in PFES was considered a reward for labor work in forests and a means to compensate for the legal rights of participants. Local people could participate at many stages of PFES implementation; however, they were only passive spectators with regards to PFES management. Two-thirds of the participants did not participate in decision-making regarding PFES distribution. We conclude that the efficiency of future PFES programs may be increased by enabling and stimulating the participants to take a more active part in the process of PFES management and distribution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Payment for Ecosystem Services, Environmental Taxation and Environmental Management: Cases from Evidence Based Policy Making and Global to Local Benefit Sharing Schemes)

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16 pages, 975 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

The Relationship between the Conception of Nature and Environmental Valuation

by Yamane Nagao, Ayano Nishikori and Tomoko Imoto

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12683; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212683 - 16 Nov 2021

Viewed by 2606

Abstract

As individuals’ relationships with nature become more diverse, so do their conceptions of nature. In this study, the image of nature and derived feelings are defined as the conception of nature. This study aimed to identify the conceptions of nature held by individuals and their influence on environmental valuation. The number of respondents who imagined natural forests when they heard the word “nature” was the highest (58%), followed by those who imagined Satoyama (31%). The factor analysis extracted five feelings toward the image of nature: care, oneness, aversion, mystery, and restorativeness. These feelings differed depending on the image of nature conjured up by individuals. Respondents who imagined natural forests and Satoyama had a higher sense of care, causing higher willingness-to-pay for forest conservation. These results revealed that the image of nature differed from person to person, contrary to previous studies where nature was regarded as predominantly represented by vegetation. Feelings for the image of nature also differed. It can be concluded that an individuals’ conception of nature influences their environmental valuation. Full article

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30 pages, 4059 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Access and Benefit Sharing and the Sustainable Trade of Biodiversity in Myanmar: The Case of Thanakha

by Alessandra Giuliani, José Tomás Undurraga, Theresa Dunkel and Saw Min Aung

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12372; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212372 - 9 Nov 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2936

Abstract

The global demand for biological resources to use as natural ingredients in diverse products is rising rapidly. This creates investment opportunities for nature-based products, creating pressure on and threats to biodiversity and its associated traditional knowledge (TK). Myanmar’s great biodiversity is attractive for scientific investigations searching for natural substances for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and other uses. Myanmar is amid profound political and economic changes, exposing the country to risks and opportunities. The recent opening to world trade put its rich biodiversity and TK under severe threat. One of the local natural biodiversity products is Thanakha, which is traditionally used for skincare. This study investigates the current and planned regulations and practices managing Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) in Myanmar, focusing on one of the potential BioTrade products: Thanakha. A qualitative and quantitative survey was conducted through in-depth interviews with 37 key informants and 35 Thanakha farmers. The results show that while the current research and development activities at the Thanakha manufacturing level could trigger ABS obligations, the low awareness about ABS requirements and the lack of traceability raise uncertainties for its potential implementation. The implementation of BioTrade principles and ethical sourcing to promote the sustainable trade of Thanakha, as well as the implementation of ABS, would lead to the protection of biodiversity and TK, and the improvement of local livelihoods. Full article

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17 pages, 945 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Three Barriers to Effective Programs with Payment for Ecosystem Services: Behavioral Responses in a Computer-Based Experiment

by Jacob P. Byl

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12346; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212346 - 9 Nov 2021

Viewed by 1311

Abstract

Financial incentives in the form of payment for ecosystem services (PES) can encourage participation in voluntary conservation programs, but real-world experience with PES is limited for services such as the provision of endangered species habitats. A computer-based laboratory experiment with 139 US college students as subjects suggests there are three barriers to effective PES programs: (1) financial rewards can crowd out altruism—low-level PES in the experiment was less effective than the same program without PES; (2) landowners may assuage guilt over destroying habitats by making contributions to ineffective conservation programs—participants often paired destruction of habitat with token contributions to conservation efforts; and (3) landowners may strategically exit conservation agreements in ways that are detrimental to wildlife—a large proportion of participants chose to leave agreements and destroy habitats when the PESs were structured without credible deterrence of an early exit. Fortunately, the results of the experiment also suggest research to overcome these barriers by ensuring that PES financial incentives are scaled and structured to effectively promote conservation. The lessons from this study—though they issue from the particular context of this experiment—provide suggestions about how to structure benefit sharing schemes that could be used to promote conservation in a range of settings. Full article

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12 pages, 6027 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A 10-year Analysis on the Reduction of Particulate Matter at the Green Buffer of the Sihwa Industrial Complex

by Sin-Yee Yoo, Sumin Choi, Namin Koo, Taehee Kim, Chan-Ryul Park and Wan-Hyeok Park

Sustainability 2021, 13(10), 5538; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105538 - 15 May 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1872

Abstract

Green buffer (GB) zones are designed to prevent the spread of air pollutants and odors from industrial complexes (ICs) to residential areas (RAs). We analyzed changes in the concentration of particulate matter (PM) and the number of high PM pollution days for 10 years after the GB was implemented, using the National Atmospheric Environmental Research Stations 2001–2018 dataset. We also performed field measurements of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 from February 2018 to January 2019 to analyze the PM concentrations at human breathing height throughout the GB. Before GB implementation (2001–2006), PM₁₀ in the RA was 9% higher than that in the IC. After GB zone implementation (2013–2018), PM₁₀ in the RA was 11% lower than that of the IC. Furthermore, the PM concentration in the RA (slope = ∆Concentration/∆Time, −2.09) rapidly decreased compared to that in the IC (slope = −1.02) and the western coastal area (WCA) (slope = −1.55) over the 10-year period. At PM concentrations at human breathing height, PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 in the RA were lower than those in the IC by 27% and 26%, respectively. After GB implementation, the wind speed was positively correlated but SOx was negatively correlated with the PM reduction rate at a local scale. These results show that there was a reduction of PM during and after GB implementation, implying the need for proper management of GBs and continuous measure of pollutant sources at the green buffers of industrial complexes. Full article

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17 pages, 1281 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards Evidence Based Policy Making in GIAHS: Convention Theory and Effects of GIAHS Registration on the Wholesale and Retail Trade of Traditional and Local Vegetables

by Yoshitaka Miyake, Yuta Uchiyama, Yoshinori Fujihira and Ryo Kohsaka

Sustainability 2021, 13(10), 5330; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105330 - 11 May 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2060

Abstract

This study examines how the registration of certain agricultural regions affects the sales of vegetables classified as traditional. We focused on the sales trends of traditional vegetables from the Noto region, one of the first designated sites of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). We compared the sales of recognized traditional vegetables to those of similar traditional vegetables from nearby areas and vegetables labeled with the same place names as the traditional vegetables but without elements of traditionality in branding. The study analyzed the sale and relevant trends of four categories of vegetable: Kaga vegetables, vegetables labeled “Kaga”, Noto vegetables, and vegetables labeled “Noto”. We further analyzed the trends by applying Convention Theory to understand the underpinning “orders of worth” in the purchase and sale of the items. Both Noto vegetables and place-labeled vegetables increased in overall sales since GIAHS registration in 2011. The recent increases in sales volume and number of items, however, were largely due to the production of lettuce, a crop from a vegetable factory. By applying Convention Theory, we identified that in the agriculture of the region, industrial farming impacted even the GIAHS registered site. Thus, careful collection and analysis of evidence is necessary to evaluate the effects of GIAHS registration and draft an action plan for further evidence-based policy making. Full article

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Review

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12 pages, 693 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) in Agricultural Water: Are PES from the Operation of Agricultural Water Control Structures Ubiquitous?

by Emmanuel Okiria, Muhamad Khoiru Zaki and Keigo Noda

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12624; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212624 - 15 Nov 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2809

Abstract

This paper reviews the consideration of the operation of agricultural water control structures (AWCSs) as sources of bundles of ecosystem services (ESs) and the subsequent design of payment for ecosystem service (PES) programs around these ESs. It is thought that PES schemes for AWCSs can complement irrigation service fees (ISFs) in funding the operation and maintenance of irrigation schemes. Case studies from Japan, the United States of America and Tanzania, representing a variety of socio-economic, geographic and climatic conditions, are discussed. In countries where the PES programs had legal backing, they showed evidence of sustainability and success. The measurement of marginal ESs flows from AWCSs proved to be one of the challenges to PES programs. There is a need to improve the measurement and modelling of hydro-meteorological and water quality parameters to ensure the transparency and success of the programs. In general, there was a realisation that ESs flow from irrigated agriculture, but there was no systematic design of PES programs around these ESs flows. An opportunity is seen to complement ISF through the design of PES programs around ES flows from the operation of AWCSs. Full article

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Payment for Ecosystem Services, Environmental Taxation and Environmental Management: Cases from Evidence Based Policy Making and Global to Local Benefit Sharing Schemes

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