Payments for Ecosystem Services in Florida’s Landscape: Concepts and Principles

Ecosystem services are the direct and indirect benefits that ecosystems provide humans. Florida is known for its diverse landscape, which includes valuable ecosystem services such as water storage, soil conservation, and biodiversity. A Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) policy approach aligns economic incentives with environmental goals, encouraging landowners to participate in conservation while potentially reducing cost of land use. This publication is the first article of a series titled Payments for Ecosystem Services in Florida’s Landscape. It introduces the concept of PES and is intended for Extension agents, government decision-makers, landowners, and researchers to help them understand the concepts and principles underlying PES programs and how they contribute to both previous and ongoing conservation efforts in Florida.