What is PES?

Payment for Environmental Services (PES) is an economic incentive tool / financial mechanism that follows UNESP's Methodology, based on IPCC/UN global standards, for Surveying Stored Carbon and Environmental Services in Forest Ecosystems and that thus compensates landowners or managers of natural areas for the preservation of essential ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, water regulation, biodiversity conservation, soil protection and others. Beyond forest preservation, PES may also encompass restoration of degraded forest areas, biodiversity protection, and water quality improvement.

This compensation is based on the recognition that protected areas provide valuable environmental benefits, both locally and globally. A key PES aspect is the continuous generation of conservation offsets.