Disposição a aceitar pagamentos por serviços ambientais: um estudo com pecuaristas no Pantanal

Abstract

The conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services on private lands is a global challenge, particularly in landscapes where agricultural production coexists with extensive areas of native vegetation. In this context, Payments for Ecosystem Services PES have been used as economic instruments to encourage landowners to conserve or enhance the provision of ecosystem services. However, the effectiveness of these programs depends not only on the amount of compensation offered but also on the contractual conditions under which producers are willing to undertake conservation commitments. This issue is particularly relevant in the Brazilian Pantanal, where extensive cattle ranching has historically coexisted with large areas of native vegetation conserved on private properties. This study aimed to estimate Pantanal cattle ranchers’ willingness to accept WTA participation in PES programs designed to conserve native vegetation exceeding legal requirements and to assess how different contractual characteristics influence their choices. A total of 61 cattle ranchers from the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul were interviewed using a Discrete Choice Experiment DCE, in which participants chose among hypothetical PES contracts that varied in annual payment per hectare, contract duration, payment adjustment mechanism, monitoring arrangements for conserved areas, and responsibilities related to wildfire prevention. Preferences were estimated using discrete choice models, with a Mixed Logit model in WTA-space as the main specification to estimate WTA. The results indicated a favorable disposition toward PES alternatives under the experimental conditions, with the opt-out alternative selected in 22.1% of choice decisions. Among the contractual characteristics evaluated, contract duration showed the most robust average effect: 15-year contracts required additional compensation of BRL 126.69/ha/year relative to 1-year contracts, indicating an economic cost associated with long-term commitment. Payment adjustment linked to cattle prices did not show a statistically significant average effect, while monitoring and wildfire prevention arrangements showed no significant differences in mean WTA. Overall, the findings demonstrate that cattle ranchers’ willingness to participate in PES programs is determined not only by the amount of compensation offered but also by how the conservation commitment is structured. The study concludes that contract design is an integral component of the economic incentive for conservation, indicating that PES policies should jointly consider compensation, contract duration, payment adjustment mechanisms, and implementation conditions to reconcile long-term conservation objectives with landowner participation.