Payments for environmental services (PES): Contribution to Indigenous livelihoods

Abstract

Indigenous people living in Australia's tropical savanna landscapes are increasingly looking towards income opportunities from the provision of environmental services as an avenue for economic development and improvement in socio-economic conditions. A number of programs, which can be classified as payments for environmental services, support the existence and operation of Indigenous land and sea management groups, also referred to as Indigenous ranger groups. Rangers undertake a portfolio of activities, including feral animal and weed control, biodiversity monitoring and protection, fire management, and biosecurity and border protection assignments. This paper reviews the extent to which current activities contribute to Indigenous livelihoods and discusses their likely growth potential and livelihood contribution in the future. The terms 'Indigenous' and 'Traditional Owners' are capitalised in this paper as they refer to descendants of the original inhabitants of Australia.