Ecosystem Services and the implementation of the community-based Payment for Environmental Services (PFES) programme will not only benefit the environment, but also local communities.
The study by the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) also noted an increase in income and well-being of local communities, and a rise in state revenue as a whole thanks to the sustainable conservation of the forest ecosystem.
FRIM said in a statement today that its study titled 'Ecosystem Service Payments for Ecotourism to Improve the Lives of Local Communities in Janda Baik, Pahang, Malaysia' proved the interrelations to be a success.
The study conducted at Ulu Tampik Waterfall (UTW), Janda Baik was to estimate the economic value, through financial incentives, to strengthen the involvement of local communities in biodiversity conservation through the PFES scheme.
"The implementation of the study in the first year of operation (2021) generated an estimated gross income of RM153,650 to local residents.
"Residents who were involved as part-time and full-time workers receive an estimated monthly income of RM477 and RM800 respectively. This project is expected to contribute RM47,330 annually in state revenue," FRIM said.
Ecosystem services refer to various benefits in the form of goods and services obtained from the natural environment such as raw material sources, clean water supply, weather control services, habitats for various species of flora and fauna, recreation and tourism.
The PFES programme, meanwhile, offers a payment system in the form of incentives to entities who contribute to ecosystem management, especially forested areas, in a sustainable and holistic manner to ensure the continuity of guaranteed ecosystem services.
FRIM also said that it has carried out a Total Economic Value (TEV) study of forest ecosystem services to raise awareness about the value of ecosystem services and currently the study has been carried out in Gunung Tebu Forest Reserve, Terengganu and Ulu Muda Forest Reserve, Kedah.
The agency also advised that close cooperation between the federal and state governments, local communities, researchers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and business entities should be enhanced to strengthen the implementation of PFES.
"With this increased cooperation, the implementation and monitoring of the PFES programme is expected to be more efficient and effective. This will also contribute to the sustainability of environmental resources and provide long-term benefits to the community and the country," it said.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency