Payments for Ecosystem Services schemes for the Orange-Senqu River Basin

Water security in the Orange-Senqu River Basin which spans Lesotho, Botswana, South Africa and Namibia, is threatened by land degradation, aliens and pollution. Anchor undertook a high-level study to explore the potential for payments for ecosystem services projects, and the possibility of using PES implementation to generate income for ORASECOM’s coordinating role. The study included the broadscale analysis and mapping of environmental issues in the basin.  This, in combination with the literature, was used to identify four potential locations for PES schemes which involved different types of services and landowner actions.  The effects of implementation of various conservation measures were estimated, and a cost-benefit analysis was undertaken.  We identified projects that could be viable with government support, and the difference in viability of marketing different types of ecosystem services in different areas.