Impacto socioeconómico del Programa Pago por Servicios Ambientales, modalidad reforestación, en el noroeste de Costa Rica

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the socioeconomic impact of the Payment for Environmental Services Program (PPSA) on beneficiaries who managed reforestation-mode contracts between 1998 and 2013 through two forest-based organizations (OBF) in northwest Costa Rica. First, we identified the socioeconomic characteristics of the beneficiaries and established, validated, and applied a set of principles, criteria, and indicators to assess the impact of the PPSA on the social and economic dimensions. Overall, results indicate that the program has strengthened local capabilities for forest development in the area, mainly through the active involvement of the OBFs and beneficiaries, although the perception of these benefits appears to decrease over time.