Ecuador, various Payment for Watershed Services (PWS) schemes

Summary

Source: Database collected by Stanton, T., Echavarria, M., Hamilton, K., Ott, C., 2010. State of watershed payments: an emerging marketplace. Ecosystem Marketplace.

See separate profiles for Pimampiro, FONAG and Cuenca.

El Chaco: The Municipality of El Chaco (supported by CEDERENA) approved an ordinance for the creation and execution of an environmental services program following the example set by Pimampiro. A designated Fund is fed by an environmental services fee to water users ($0.028 per cubic metre for the first year to $0.068 per cubic metre for the fifth year). Resources are then invested in target watershed through payments for forest protection and grassland regeneration.

CELICA: Same as before (and supported by CEDERENA), the Municipality of Celica created a fund to protect the quality and quantity of water in the Quilluzara y Matalanga watersheds. A municipal ordinance set up the environmental services fee to water users ($0.09 per cubic metre). Resources are used to buying land so far (three main purchases), and plans to pay for protection of forest later on.

Loja: The Municipality of Loja established an environmental service fee (between $0.05 and $0.10 per cubic metre) to protect and rehabilitate six sub watersheds in priority supply areas. Supported by the NGO NCI, they have used the funds to purchase land. Plans to create a trust fund in the future (FORAGUA), upscaling to include other municipalities in the area.

Ambato: Ambato represents an interesting case where long discussions and work with indigenous groups and water users eventually resulted in the creation of a Trust Fund (Fondo de Manejo de Páramos y Lucha contra la Pobreza de Tungurahua), with a seed capital of $460,000 (funds from local government, indigenous movements, and private companies).

FONAPA: Long-standing example of joint approach to watershed management bringing various municipal and private firms to create the trust fund FONAPA.  This fund is administrated by CFN and currently the technical secretary is being implemented. Seed Capital $490,000 (ETAPA: $400,000, Hidropaute: $30,000, Elecaustro: $20,000, TNC: $25,000, Cuenca U: $2,000, F. Cordillera Tropical: $10,000, and EMPAL: $3,000).  Additionally, ETAPA has committed one per cent of income for water service to the Fund. See full case profile here.

Riobamba: The municipality of Riobamba (supported by CESA and Interjuntas) created a fund to support the conservation of the Chambo River watershed, which supplies water to Riobamba city. Seed capital is US$ 70,000, and additional funding comes from government and international cooperation (Ecuadorian Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion (US$89,000), USAID (US$28,000), and the French Govenment (100,000 euros). Resources are used to fund projects on education and training and introduction to technologies (like improved irrigation). No direct payments are made to farmers.

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