Community Perceptions of a Payment for Ecosystem Services Project in Southwest Madagascar: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Despite the popularity of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes as a new paradigm to enhance conservation of natural resources, evidence of their benefits to people and nature is often illustrated from desk-based reviews, but rarely investigated from the local sites where they have been implemented. We investigated local perceptions of a PES scheme implemented in the Baie des Assassin’s mangroves of southwest Madagascar with particular focus on its perceived future effects. To meet our goal, we first collated socioeconomic and mangrove ecological information through extensive literature research, and key informant interviews with 35 peoples within the 10 villages surrounding the bay to be used as reference conditions. Following this, a workshop with 32 participants from local communities was conducted, using participatory scenario planning to predict the effects of the PES project, and to identify concerns surrounding its implementation. Local communities perceived the PES scheme as a potentially valuable approach for the sustainable management of their mangroves, and perceived that it would address major socioeconomic issues and mangrove management problems in the bay as a result of the carbon offsetting from their mangroves. We conclude that to achieve acceptance and good governance of a PES project by local communities, needs and concerns surrounding the implementation of the PES project need be addressed.

Zone-Based Tourism Planning Using Satellite Imagery

“…In the perspective of researchers, the tourism planning framework proposed by Zain (2011) is better suited for implementation in areas of the mangrove ecosystem that already host tourist attractions or have established walking tourism routes, such as TMC (e.g Muchibi, 2015;Nugraha et al, 2015;Pranatha et al, 2015;Idajati et al, 2016;Wakyudi, 2016;Ambarita, 2017;Juhariah, 2017;Wijaya, 2020;Kasim, 2021;Rahayu, 2021;Ramadhan, 2021;Santoso et al 2021;Cheris et al, 2022). Conversely, this planning concept appears to be less suitable for areas within the mangrove ecosystem lacking tourist attractions, protected zones, or defined boundaries (such e.g., Abdullah et al 2014;Purnomo et al 2015;DasGupta & Shaw, 2016;Setiawan, 2016;Umilia & Asbar, 2016;Hutabarat, 2018;Damastuti & de Groot, 2019;Martínez-Espinosa et al 2020;Miller et al 2020;Valenzuela et al 2020;Arumugam et al 2021;Aulia et al 2021;Ely et al, 2021;Handayani, 2021;Rakotomahazo et al 2021;Suyadi et al 2021;Wahyurini et al 2021;Gómez-Ruiz et al 2022: Nyangoko et al 2022. This is because during the inventory phase, the study involves both physical and non-physical information about mangrove areas for planning purposes, serving as both supporting and primary data.…”

Response of Ecosystem Services to Land Use Change in Madagascar Island, Africa: A Multi-Scale Perspective

“…Only a few studies on LULC change have been conducted across Madagascar’s provinces [ 32 ], indicating a lack of national information on LULC change. Furthermore, a quantitative assessment showing the ecosystem service value changes is rarely assessed, mostly covering the whole country, including provinces, regions, and towns [ 33 ]. In addition to examining the changing characteristics of LULC in Madagascar, there are no local or national estimates of these consequences which is essential information required in this kind of study [ 34 ].…”