Paying for environmental services: determining recognized participation under common property in a peri-urban context

This paper analyzes payment for environmental services (PES) policies under a common property regime in Mexico City. Econometric analysis of field data collected in an agrarian community shows that only a limited number of community members recognize their active involvement in the national payment scheme, which demonstrates that the condition of voluntary participation, as stipulated by the program, is likely to be flawed in cases of collective property. We suggest that institutional arrangements, human capacity and capability, and perception of the natural resource context significantly influence recognized participation in PES programs.