O modelo em cascata é uma estrutura comumente utilizada para avaliar a provisão de serviços ecossistêmicos, destacando seus benefícios para a sociedade e atribuindo valores não monetários e monetários a esses serviços. Adaptando este modelo, apresentamos uma metodologia para estabelecer os indicadores mais adequados para monitorar programas de Pagamento por Serviços Ecossistêmicos (PSA) hídricos no Brasil. Por meio de um processo participativo, um conjunto de indicadores para as funções ecossistêmicas foi atribuído a cada serviço ecossistêmico (SE) considerado no estudo. Em seguida, os indicadores foram classificados segundo os seguintes critérios: clareza, viabilidade, sensibilidade e relevância. Os resultados demonstraram que os critérios clareza e relevância foram os que os especialistas consideraram como os mais importantes para escolher um indicador. No geral, podemos observar que para todos os SE avaliados, os indicadores de maior pontuação foram aqueles analíticos e bem estabelecidos pela literatura. A lista de indicadores pode apoiar o monitoramento de PSA na Floresta Atlântica. Além disso, a metodologia desenvolvida pode ser facilmente aplicada em outras áreas e fornecer suporte para a definição dos indicadores mais adequados para monitorar o PSA baseado em água em diferentes contextos nos trópicos.
Palavras-chave: áreas tropicais; funções do ecossistema; indicadores de serviços ecossistêmicos; modelo em cascata
The cascade model is a commonly applied framework to evaluate ecosystem services provision, highlighting their benefits to society and assigning non-monetary and monetary values to these services. Adapting this model, we present a methodology to establish the most suitable indicators for monitoring Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs related to water resources in Brazil. Through a participatory process, a set of ecosystem functions indicators were assigned for each ecosystem service (ES) considered in the study. The indicators were then classified following these criteria: clarity, viability, sensitivity, and relevance. The indicators were organized by their final score according to each evaluated criterion. The results demonstrated that “clarity” and “relevance” criteria were those most important for the experts to choose an indicator. In general, we could also observe a preference for analytical and well-established indicators in the literature for all ES evaluated. The indicators list presented can support the PES program monitoring in Brazil. Additionally, the methodology developed can be easily applied in other areas and provide the definition of the most suitable indicators to monitor water-based PES in different Brazilian contexts.
Keywords: cascade model, ecosystem functions, ecosystem service indicators, tropical areas
The cascade model is a commonly applied framework to evaluate ecosystem services provision, highlighting their benefits to society and assigning non-monetary and monetary values to these services. Adapting this model, we present a methodology to establish the most suitable indicators for monitoring Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs related to water resources in Brazil. Through a participatory process, a set of ecosystem functions indicators were assigned for each ecosystem service (ES) considered in the study. The indicators were then classified following these criteria: clarity, viability, sensitivity, and relevance. The indicators were organized by their final score according to each evaluated criterion. The results demonstrated that “clarity” and “relevance” criteria were those most important for the experts to choose an indicator. In general, we could also observe a preference for analytical and well-established indicators in the literature for all ES evaluated. The indicators list presented can support the PES program monitoring in Brazil. Additionally, the methodology developed can be easily applied in other areas and provide the definition of the most suitable indicators to monitor water-based PES in different Brazilian contexts.
Keywords: cascade model, ecosystem functions, ecosystem service indicators, tropical areas
