Monetization of ecosystem services
Work Package 5
The fifth work package aims to analyse the potential to monetize selected ecosystem services and initiate the development of business cases.
A main focus here will be put on value-added processing of the most promising Cerrado non-timber forest products. Following detailed mapping and analysis of market and value chains of these forest products, the feasibility of value chain development for selected Cerrado non-timber forest products will be determined. Data for the former will be obtained by focus groups discussions and interviews with local collectors, traders in both rural and urban areas, aggregators, processors, exporters, and other value chain stakeholders in order to clarify the structure, functionality, and conduct of the current market and value chains from production to consumption. In order to then foster access to high-value market niches for Cerrado NTFP to monetize biodiversity benefits, different options will be explored, such as kick-starting the novel food approval process for access to European markets, or certification pathways.
Furthermore, we will determine the feasibility to monetize carbon sequestration by using carbon credits. This will follow a scoping study to assess the suitability of various standards and methods for carbon sequestration in agroforestry systems and legal ownership of carbon credits. Then, using the previously collected data from other work streams as well as additional secondary sources, we will evaluate the economic feasibility of creating carbon credits from silvopastoral systems and determine their quantity.