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Pathways from payments for ecosystem services program to socioeconomic outcomes

Author

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  • Wu, Xutong
  • Wang, Shuai
  • Fu, Bojie
  • Zhao, Yan
  • Wei, Yongping

Abstract

Payment for ecosystem services (PES) is a widely accepted policy tool for achieving environmental conservation and socioeconomic development goals. However, the mechanisms through which PES programs affect socioeconomic outcomes remain elusive. Here, we use a framework which integrates links between PES programs, livelihood activities, and socioeconomic outcomes, to determine how China’s Grain-to-Green Program (GTGP) has affected the incomes of participating households in the Yanhe watershed of the Loess Plateau. The results show that although the total effect of the GTGP on household income is not statistically significant, there are still two significant pathways. Through the analysis we found that implementation of the GTGP significantly increased the participations in local non-farm jobs, which leads to increased household incomes. Based on our findings, we suggest several ways of improving the socioeconomic outcomes of the GTGP through increasing non-farm work benefit of participating households, maximizing the positive effect of economic forest, and reducing the reliance of households on income from crop production. Our study provides a template for revealing the underlying pathways to socioeconomic outcomes of PES programs – crucial knowledge if we are to design and implement better PES programs and achieve the desired environmental conservation and poverty reduction goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Wu, Xutong & Wang, Shuai & Fu, Bojie & Zhao, Yan & Wei, Yongping, 2019. "Pathways from payments for ecosystem services program to socioeconomic outcomes," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 39(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoser:v:39:y:2019:i:c:s2212041618306612
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoser.2019.101005
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Stefano Bruzzese & Iva Tolić Mandić & Sanja Tišma & Simone Blanc & Filippo Brun & Dijana Vuletić, 2023. "A Framework Proposal for the Ex Post Evaluation of a Solution-Driven PES Scheme: The Case of Medvednica Nature Park," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-22, May.
    4. Fan, Di & Wei, Chuanhui & Zhao, Manyi & Wang, Ke, 2024. "Forest-based climate change mitigation measures can generate economy-environment-bioenergy synergistic benefits in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 373(C).
    5. Wu, Xutong & Liu, Jianguo & Fu, Bojie & Wang, Shuai & Wei, Yongping, 2021. "Integrating multiple influencing factors in evaluating the socioeconomic effects of payments for ecosystem services," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    6. Hu, Yuan & Kuhn, Lena & Zeng, Weizhong & Glauben, Thomas, 2023. "Who benefits from payments for ecosystem services? Policy lessons from a forest carbon sink program in China," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
    7. Tingyu Xu & Xiang Niu & Bing Wang, 2022. "The Grain for Green Project in Contiguous Poverty-Stricken Regions of China: A Nature-Based Solution," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-14, June.
    8. Sheng, Jichuan & Wang, Hui, 2022. "Participation, income growth and poverty alleviation in payments for ecosystem services: The case of China's Wolong Nature Reserve," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    9. Zhang, Qi & Wang, Ying & Tao, Shiqi & Bilsborrow, Richard E. & Qiu, Tong & Liu, Chong & Sannigrahi, Srikanta & Li, Qirui & Song, Conghe, 2020. "Divergent socioeconomic-ecological outcomes of China’s conversion of cropland to forest program in the subtropical mountainous area and the semi-arid Loess Plateau," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    10. Mengmeng Liu & Limin Bai & Hassan Saif Khan & Hua Li, 2023. "The Influence of the Grassland Ecological Compensation Policy on Regional Herdsmen’s Income and Its Gap: Evidence from Six Pastoralist Provinces in China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-16, March.

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