As expected, in the first wave the return rate was rather low (around 25 %) and the
monetary valuation results for the proposed tap water improvement program
differed strongly between the MS and F2F methods. After employing the CEGs
and adapting the questionnaires according to their suggestions (cf. Ahlheim et al.
2010 for details), a doubling of the return rate, to about 50 %, was achieved.
Further, and most importantly, the monetary valuation results were now statistically
identical for the MS and F2F surveys. This result shows the strong potential of using
active stakeholder participation in the survey and questionnaire design process, if
optimally adapted to the specific survey population. As appears from the results of
this study, stakeholder participation is of particular value for the design of selfadministered surveys like the CVM mail survey. As a prerequisite for functional
CEGs; however, it should be mentioned that the group must comprise a sufficiently
representative selection of the population to be surveyed, and that group members
feel free to express their personal opinions, conditions which were met in Thailand.
In other countries; however, such a representative selection of group members and
free expression of views may not be possible, leading to a severe limitation in the
value of stakeholder participation in environmental valuation surveys.
Environmental valuation – whether done in participatory or conventional ways –
can provide a sound basis for Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES), as discussed
in the following section.
9.4 Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES): A Tool Used
to Engage Smallholders in Preserving Natural Resources
in the Southeast Asian Uplands
9.4.1 Payments for Ecosystem Services: Concept
and Historical Overview
The concept of rewarding land managers for providing environmental services goes
back to the soil conservation programs introduced in the United States following the
infamous ‘dust bowl’ period of the mid-1930s, when vast expanses of the country
were hit by extended droughts and wind erosion (e.g., Hartmann and Petersen
2005).
4 The world’s longest running national PES program is the United States’
Conservation Reserve Program, which provides “technical and financial assistance
to eligible farmers and ranchers to address soil, water, and related natural resource
concerns on their lands in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner”
(USDA 2009). Under individual contracts with the government, farmers agree to
adopt environment-friendly agricultural and conservation practices.
4 This section was written by Andreas Neef, Chapika Sangkapitux and Varaporn Punyawadee and
draws partly on Neef and Thomas (2009).
342
A. Neef et al.
monetary valuation results for the proposed tap water improvement program
differed strongly between the MS and F2F methods. After employing the CEGs
and adapting the questionnaires according to their suggestions (cf. Ahlheim et al.
2010 for details), a doubling of the return rate, to about 50 %, was achieved.
Further, and most importantly, the monetary valuation results were now statistically
identical for the MS and F2F surveys. This result shows the strong potential of using
active stakeholder participation in the survey and questionnaire design process, if
optimally adapted to the specific survey population. As appears from the results of
this study, stakeholder participation is of particular value for the design of selfadministered surveys like the CVM mail survey. As a prerequisite for functional
CEGs; however, it should be mentioned that the group must comprise a sufficiently
representative selection of the population to be surveyed, and that group members
feel free to express their personal opinions, conditions which were met in Thailand.
In other countries; however, such a representative selection of group members and
free expression of views may not be possible, leading to a severe limitation in the
value of stakeholder participation in environmental valuation surveys.
Environmental valuation – whether done in participatory or conventional ways –
can provide a sound basis for Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES), as discussed
in the following section.
9.4 Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES): A Tool Used
to Engage Smallholders in Preserving Natural Resources
in the Southeast Asian Uplands
9.4.1 Payments for Ecosystem Services: Concept
and Historical Overview
The concept of rewarding land managers for providing environmental services goes
back to the soil conservation programs introduced in the United States following the
infamous ‘dust bowl’ period of the mid-1930s, when vast expanses of the country
were hit by extended droughts and wind erosion (e.g., Hartmann and Petersen
2005).
4 The world’s longest running national PES program is the United States’
Conservation Reserve Program, which provides “technical and financial assistance
to eligible farmers and ranchers to address soil, water, and related natural resource
concerns on their lands in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner”
(USDA 2009). Under individual contracts with the government, farmers agree to
adopt environment-friendly agricultural and conservation practices.
4 This section was written by Andreas Neef, Chapika Sangkapitux and Varaporn Punyawadee and
draws partly on Neef and Thomas (2009).
342
A. Neef et al.