Implementación de pagos por servicios ambientales en la Cuenca del río Cali, Colombia: una mirada desde los sistemas socioecológicos

An increase in the implementation of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) is currently expected in Colombia -a biocultural diverse country with deep inequalities. This research identifies factors that influenced the implementation of one of the first PES pilots developed in Colombia during 2009-2014: the Cali river watershed PES program. We used the social-ecological systems approach (SES), which has not yet widely used to analyze PES, as the analytical framework. Fifteen interviews were applied to experts and PES participants and secondary information related to the PES program was also reviewed. Through a content analysis, key factors that positively influenced PES implementation were identified: quality and importance of hydrological services; participation and leadership of non-governmental and communitybased organizations; and the program convergence with local pro-environmental worldviews and values. Some of the factors identified that played a negative influence include: conflicts between community actors, national rules associated with land tenure, and the high opportunity costs that small land-holders face. The SSE framework contributes to analyzing multiple emergent results (ecological, social, economic and political) from PES development, which frequently are overlooked in PES designs focused on technical aspects.