Green without envy: how social capital alleviates tensions from a Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) program in Indonesia

Ecology and Society: a journal of integrative science for resilience and sustainability

James T Erbaugh,¹  Francesca L McGrath,²  BeriaLeimona,³  L. RomanCarrasco,⁴  SachaAmaruzaman,⁵  Nana P Rahadian,⁵ 

[1] School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, 440Church Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA;Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore,14Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, Republic of Singapore;Environmental Studies Program, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire03755, USA;Rekonvasi Bhumi, Jalan R.H. Joenus Soemantri, No 4/20, RT 1, RW 1,Kelurahan Tembong, Kecamatan Cipocok Jaya, Kota Serang, Provinsi Banten,Indonesia;World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), JL, CIFOR, Situ Gede Sindang Barang,Bogor 16115 PO Box 161, Bogor 16001, Indonesia

关键词: incentive-based conservation;    Indonesia;    payments for ecosystem services;    social capital;    social impacts;   

DOI  :  10.5751/ES-10181-230410

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Resilience Alliance Publications

【 摘 要 】

Social capital increases participation and the success of conservation projects. However, research often overlooks social capital between program participants and nonparticipants. We examine social capital between participants and nonparticipants in villages across the Cidanau Watershed in West Java, Indonesia. Villages in this region have longstanding participation in a Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme, and previous studies note they contain high levels of social capital. We find that working together, helping each other when someone is in need, and trusting your neighbors are part of the tradition and the history of these communities. Furthermore, we find that high levels of social capital persist between village members who do and do not participate in the PES scheme, despite perceived tensions and jealousy and elite capture in the PES scheme. The high levels of social capital mitigate the social impacts of the PES program. Specifically, participants report giving cash to jealous neighbors and/or providing nonparticipants with information about the PES scheme and encouraging their involvement. The informal actions that participants take to alleviate tension and jealousy mitigate the negative social impacts and perceptions of the PES. Thus, this research extends the literature on PES programs to consider participants and nonparticipants and it demonstrates how high levels of social capital can contribute to project stability by alleviating negative consequences and perceptions through informal mechanisms.

【 授权许可】

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