Rapid agrobiodiversity appraisal (RABA) in the context of environmental service rewards: protocols for data collection and case studies in rubber agroforests in Bungo district, Jambi, Indonesia and fragmented forest in north Thailand

Agriculture usually implies a loss of biodiversity. Yet, seen at larger temporal and spatial scale, many agricultural landscapes still contain substantial parts of the original biodiversity of pre-human vegetation – and allow for the expansion of flora and fauna of more open habitats. In other words, agriculture tends to operate in a 'trade-off' zone, where intensification tends to have financial benefits but ecological costs. Reward mechanisms that help 'internalize' the global benefits at the level of the farmer – decision maker are therefore relevant and necessary. Beyond this general need for rewards, however, we realize that location-specific appraisal is needed to develop reward mechanisms that are effective, efficient and transparent. Environmental degradation linked to agricultural intensification may occur due to insufficient benefits flowing to the guardians of the land for their efforts in maintaining ecosystems and harbouring agrobiodiversity. Environmental service reward is a new tool offering new opportunities for conservation. A key difference with past attempts to integrate conservation and development is the concept of 'conditionality' (the reward is linked to performance) and freedom of choice. However, few if any currently known mechanisms in developing countries meet all the criteria to be considered as 'pure' environmental-service rewards, with 'conditionality' as the most difficult one to achieve. Reward for conservation, especially in agroecosystems, is probably located at the bottom of the list, while most of the funds are allocated to 'protected areas'. The higher complexity of multifunctional agroecosystems and associated high transaction costs are limiting factors. A better targeting of situations that have a real chance of success can help both local communities and external conservation stakeholders to use their resources more effectively and thus reduce transaction costs. This primarily depends on improving the flows of information.

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