Identifying Key Indicators for Monitoring Water Environmental Services Payment Programs—A Case Study in Brazil

The recognition of the natural environment as an element that provides ecosystem services to society has led to an increased interest in the study of these services and the implementation of payment for environmental services (PES) initiatives. Although in recent years it has gained strength as an environmental conservation and restoration strategy, the PES instrument lacks something in the monitoring of its actions that inhibits its concrete efficiency, such as indicators that represent the study area. Based on the results of water, soil, and vegetation quality reported in a case study on a rural property participating in a PES-Water scheme in Brazil, the present study aimed to establish minimum water quality indicators relevant to the monitoring of PES-Water programs and propose a flowchart for monitoring actions and environmental aspects to support future projects of the same nature. Based on the results, the monitoring of these areas must involve the continuous checking of soil indicators, water and vegetation. In addition, details of the microclimate and socioeconomic conditions must be recorded. The results should also be systematized, disseminated, and made available in a monitoring system to serve the various actors involved, thereby facilitating the understanding of the PES instrument and the remuneration for the environmental services provided.