Implications for poverty

There are considerable expectations that PES programmes can contribute to poverty reduction as well as to improved environmental management. These expectations are largely based on actual or perceived links between poverty and environmental management. If poverty – which may be defined as lack of income or assets, vulnerability or powerlessness – is a major cause of environmental degradation, then paying poor producers to adopt more environmentally friendly systems of production would appear likely to generate a “win–win” outcome resulting in both poverty reduction and environmental benefits. There are, indeed, many situations in which this is likely to be the case.

Sustainable Development Goals:

No Poverty

Responsible Consumption and Production

Decent Work and Economic Growth