Cuenca

1
Case study 1
Micro-watershed Conservation and Recovery
Programme (PROCUENCAS)
Heredia, Costa Rica
PROJECT PHASE: EXECUTION
SOURCE OF INITIAL INFORMATION: JUAN BOLAÑOS, EMPRESA DE SERVICIOS PÚBLICOS DE
HEREDIA S.A.
a. Context
a.1. Is there a national or regional PES systems policy?
Yes, it is described in the countryʼs Biodiversity Act.
a.2.
Is there a specifi c PES legal framework in the country or region?
The Biodiversity Act, the Public Services Regulating Authority Act, the Forestry
Act.
a.3. Is the project part of a wider-ranging watershed management programme at a national
or regional level?
No, it is exclusive to the micro-watersheds within its own area of action which
comprises approximately 15 000 ha.
a.4. Was water a market commodity for providers and users before project execution? Do
local populations accept water as a market commodity?
Yes.
a.5. Are the forests which provide this service legally protected? If so, by what legal
framework?
Yes, by the Forestry Act, which forbids the change of soil use and establishes protected
areas.
a.6. Is there a management plan for the resources provided by the service?
Yes.
a.7. Do the actors involved have previous experience in ecosystem management?
Traditionally speaking, yes.
a.8. Watershed size
Five micro-watersheds of approximately 15 000 ha. The operational area comprises
the area higher than 1 500 masl in each micro-watershed.
a.9. Execution time
The project was drawn up in 1997, the system began operations in 2002.