The Science, Economics and Institutions of Managing and Paying for Eco-system Services Chiang Mai, Thailand

Workshop » Advanced/Other Courses » The Science, Economics and Institutions of Managing and Paying for Eco-system Services Chiang Mai, Thailand

21 Apr 2009 - 29 Apr 2009 Chiang Mai, Thailand

A course on ‘The Science, Economics and Institutions of Managing and Paying for Eco-system Services' was co-organized by EEPSEA, SANDEE and World Agro forestry Centre and held at Chiang Mai, Thailand between April 21-29, 2009. The course was designed to expose participants to the idea of PES, the science behind it, economic valuation techniques and managing such schemes. Topics of discussion included carbon stocks, land use change, water shed functions, storm protection services etc. The emphasis was on integrating economics and natural science to value ecosystem services. However, the course was not merely based on lectures alone. Management issues, for example negotiation tactics for PES and adoption of such schemes, were taught through class games. Moreover, field trips were designed to learn the science of ecosystems. The lead resource persons were Meine van Noordwijk , Steve Polasky, Chetan Agrawal, David Thomas, Jim Peters, Orapan Srisawalak-Nabangchang, Dr. Prasit and Saudamini Das. It was a unique course in that it covered three different aspects of ecosystems. It was also an opportunity for SANDEE and EEPSEA researchers to learn from each other.