United Nations Environment Programme
Division of Technology, Industry, and Economics
Economics and Trade Branch

Technical Discussion on International Payments for Ecosystem Services

Geneva, Switzerland, 12-13 September 2006

On 12-13 September 2006, UNEP's Economics and Trade Branch (ETB) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN), in close cooperation with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and with the generous support of the German Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, invited experts from relevant international institutions, NGOs, academia and the private sector to a technical discussion on international Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) in Geneva, Switzerland. This discussion was initiated out of the perceived need to further explore innovative financial mechanisms for the implementation of environmental objectives.

Payments for ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration in forest areas, conservation of biological diversity, management of water flows as well as preservation of natural beauty and cultural values have received increased attention over the last years as an efficient and cost-effective way to promote environmental protection. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, in its findings, stresses the need for further application and development of PES schemes. Also, the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 8) to the CBD , held in Curitiba, Brazil in March 2006 identified the need to explore innovative financial mechanisms for the implementation of the CBD objectives and the 2010 biodiversity target.

This technical discussion assessed the experiences gained so far with a view of identifying best practices and options for promoting the wider application of PES, including at the international level. It built on experiences with carbon trading and recent initiatives focused on avoided deforestation, but look beyond and focus on potential payment schemes for a wider range of ecosystem services, in particular biodiversity-related ecosystem services. This discussion's objective was to identify a set of actions – including research, international consultation and application – that can be taken collectively by the institutions invited.

Related websites: http://www.unep.ch/etb/areas/econInst.php

Contact persons : fulai.sheng@unep.ch, vera.weick@unep.ch