Mountain Forum presented "Payments for Environmental Services (PES) in Mountain Areas" as the focus in its latest bulletin. Featured articles and case studies have been contributed by the Mountain Forum network and those of partner organizations, with contributions from key players such as the World Bank, IUCN, the German Development Cooperation (GTZ), the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV), Wetlands International, the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Conservation International (CI), the Nature Conservancy (TNC) and ICIMOD.

Case studies are grouped according to regions: Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, Latin America, and Africa. RUPES researchers contributed in a number of articles.

Laxman Joshi, RUPES Bungo Leader, co-wrote the overview entitled “Payments for Environmental Services in Mountain Areas: An Overview of the Options and Challenges for Mountain Systems and People” emphasizing why PES schemes are of particular relevance for mountain regions, discussing the underlying concept and summarizing key factors and challenges for design and implementation.

In a featured article “Payments for Environmental Services: The Need for Redefinition?” she co-wrote, Beria Leimona – RUPES Program Manager, concluded that without including poverty sensitive aspects in PES schemes there is a great danger of challenging the long-term environmental benefits. Suyanto, RUPES Sumberjaya leader, co-wrote another featured article “Rewards for Environmental Services and Collective Land Tenure: Lessons from Ecuador and Indonesia.”

RUPES Philippines researchers contributed articles on case studies from the Philippines. Delia Catacutan, Grace Villamor, Caroline D. Pinon wrote “Local Government-Led PES for Watershed Protection: Cases from the Philippines,” while Rodel Lasco, Emma Abasolo, and Grace Villamor wrote “Payments for Carbon Sequestration in the Philippines: Lessons and Implications.”

On the Interview section, Dr Meine van Noordwijk, former RUPES Program Coordinator and currently ICRAF Global Science Advisor, explained why ICRAF (RUPES Program) prefers to use the term "rewarding environmental services” (RES) rather than “payments for environmental services” (PES) and many related aspects to it.

Visit http://www.mtnforum.org/rs/bul.cfm for downloading the Bulletin.