Title
Bird Nest Protection Program in the Northern Plains of Cambodia
Author(s)
Tom Clements, Lucy Garrett, Ashish John, Omaliss Keo, Kongkim Sreng, Pech Bunnat, Rours Vann, Tan Setha, Thong Sokha, Hugo Rainey
Published
2009
Abstract
Direct payments for conservation – a payment for an environmental service – were proposed by Ferraro (2001) as an effective tool for delivering conservation outcomes. This case study describes a direct payment program that was established for nine Globally Threatened bird species in the Northern Plains of Cambodia, including five listed as Critically Endangered. All nine species were heavily threatened by collection of eggs and chicks from nesting sites for consumption or trade. Under the program, local people were offered conditional payments if they successfully protected nests until the chicks fledged. Since the program’s inception in 2002, it has protected more than 1,550 nests and expanded to cover 21 villages over an area greater than 4,000 km2 of habitat. Annual payments exceed $30,000, of which 71-78% is made directly to local people, many of whom live on less than $1 per day. The average annual payments per protector, $80-$160, are therefore significant in comparison with other forms of local cash income. This case study demonstrates that direct payments can be a highly effective and cost-efficient approach to deliver conservation outcomes in a manner that also supports local livelihoods.
Keywords
TransLinks, Case Study, English
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