In collaboration with ECO-BEST (Enhancing the Economics of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Southeast Asia) and the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), EEPSEA held a five-day course on Biodiversity Valuation and Payment for Ecosystem Services last 27 September to 1 October 2014 at Thailand’s Khao Yai National Park. The course discussed the tools to use to measure the value of biodiversity and the cost of biodiversity conservation, specifically for the establishment, management and monitoring of payment for ecosystem services (PES) schemes.
Thirty-three (33) participants from eight countries (i.e., Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam) attended the course. Among them are 12 park managers and representatives from various ASEAN Heritage Parks; 12 representatives from Ministries of Environment; and 9 university researchers.
The course was facilitated by various experts in the region. Dr. Filiberto Pollisco, Jr., of ACB, and Dr. Yongyut Trisurat, of Kasetsart University’s Forest Biology Department, discussed how to set the baseline and how to measure and monitor performance in terms of ecosystem service provision, with the former focusing on biodiversity and the latter focusing on watersheds. Dr. Phumsith Mahasuweerachai, of Khon Kaen University, and Dr. Orapan Nabangchang, EEPSEA Deputy Director for Partnership and Training and Associate Professor at Sukhothai Thammatirat Open University, discussed how to estimate the cost of providing ecosystem services and set the PES price and the financial arrangement.
The course discussion was further enriched by inputs and insights from those with experience in PES establishment and management. Ms. Huynh Thi Mai, of Vietnam Environment Administration’s Biodiversity Conservation Agency, shared insights from the PES project in Ca Mau, Vietnam. Mr. Indra P. Sunjoto, of Sabah Forestry Department, shared their experiences from the Malua Wildlife Habitat Conservation Bank in Malaysia.