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TERI SAS launches M.Sc. (Energy Studies & Management)
Payments for ecosystem services: the case of ecotourism in Bhondsi, Haryana

Student name: Ms Aparna Vashisht
Guide: Dr Shilpi Kapur
Year of completion: 2012
Host Organisation: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
Abstract: Payment‟s for Ecosystem Services (PES) has become an important and effective tool for efficient management and provisioning of ecosystem services in a country. The inherent nature of PES programs, work by way of making payments to incentivize provisioning of ecosystem services, while at the same time rendering several socio-economic benefits. Some countries like Costa Rica have pioneered the use of PES approach and have even established formal, countrywide program of payments.

This paper looks into the scope of a potential PES mechanism for a site in the Bhondsi area of the Gurgaon district in the state of Haryana in India. The study finds out that the place of „Bhondsi‟ has the potential to offer excellent recreational services to its visitor‟s. However, due to lack of incentives from the participants (potential provider and beneficiary of these services), there exists a „market failure „and thus ecosystem service of recreation goes unvalued. This study comes up with a payment mechanism under a potential PES structure. This is done by way of studying this place under the purview of a potential „Ecotourism Spot‟. The revenue generated from the beneficiaries of recreation service forms a strong fiscal mechanism to environmental sustainability of the place; while at the same time, giving a boost to the local economy and generating socio-economic benefits to account for the sentiments of the local villagers, who could be involved as future participants in the PES program. The study involved detailed consultations with the stakeholders including the officials of the Haryana government, academicians, experts and visits to the site to understand the system and design an appropriate PES mechanism. Focussed group discussion (FGDS) has been used to understand the socioeconomic implications from the potential PES Mechanism to the local stakeholders. Further, by making use of the method of „Contingent Valuation for non-marketed goods‟, an estimate of visitor‟s Willingness to Pay (WTP) has been calculated.