Community Stewardship: Adding a Community Angle to PES Markets

The session examined the dynamics of Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) markets, with a focus on integrating community perspectives into the voluntary carbon market (VCM), particularly in the context of REDD+ initiatives. Recent years have seen a surge in PES, driven by net-zero goals and market opportunities, but concerns have emerged over carbon colonialism, as millions of hectares in the Global South, often inhabited by Indigenous Peoples and local communities, become targets for carbon sequestration due to low costs and insecure tenure. The session highlighted criticisms of current carbon market methodologies, including issues of over-crediting and insufficient consideration of local contexts, which have led to calls for greater integrity and inclusion of co-benefits in market frameworks. However, current market responses continue to favor top-down approaches dominated by the Global North, often sidelining community involvement. The panel discussion presented community stewardship as a promising alternative, emphasizing the integration of communal tenure, local governance, traditional ecological knowledge, and cultural values. Drawing on pilot projects from India and Kenya, speakers explored how community agency, knowledge, and care can enhance ecosystem resilience, ensuring both ecological and economic benefits. The dialogue underscored the need to bridge the gap between science, market mechanisms, and community needs, advocating for more inclusive PES models that recognize the multifaceted contributions of forests beyond carbon. The session aimed to outline pathways for embedding communities and civil society organizations in PES markets, proposing strategies for a more equitable system that respects local contexts while promoting sustainable and long-term ecosystem management.


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