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From poverty trap to ecosystem service curse.
Jakub Kronenberg1, Klaus Hubacek2
1Department of International Economics, Faculty of Economics and Sociology, University of Lodz, P.O.W. 3/5, 90-255 Lodz, Poland.
Sustainability Science
|September 4, 2018
Summary
Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) can negatively impact local communities, leading to an "ecosystem service curse." This occurs when regions rich in ecosystem services experience counterintuitive negative development due to poor institutional quality and maladaptive states.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Sustainability Science
- Environmental Economics
Background:
- Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) are intended to benefit local communities but often yield unintended negative consequences.
- Recurring problems in PES schemes suggest a paradox where ecosystem wealth can hinder development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present the "ecosystem service curse" hypothesis.
- To connect this hypothesis with dynamic system stability landscapes and sustainability science.
- To explore the context of developmental traps within PES schemes.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of existing observations on PES schemes.
- Theoretical framework development linking PES outcomes to institutional quality and system dynamics.
- Analysis of case studies illustrating the ecosystem service curse.
Main Results:
- PES can lead to "ecosystem service curse" phenomena, characterized by negative development outcomes.
- Poor institutional quality is a key factor in the persistence of maladaptive states within PES.
- Instead of alleviating poverty, PES can trap communities in cycles of underdevelopment.
Conclusions:
- The ecosystem service curse hypothesis offers a critical perspective on the limitations of PES.
- Understanding dynamic system stability is crucial for addressing traps in sustainability initiatives.
- Improving institutional quality is essential to mitigate negative consequences and ensure equitable development from ecosystem services.
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