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Abstract
Although several institutional and management approaches that address the
degradation of the rangelands have been tested in the dry areas of Central and West Asia
and North Africa (CWANA), impact has been limited. Nonetheless, the development of
National Action Plans to combat desertification highlights the interest of governments to
tackle this issue. Payment for Environmental Services (PES) may be a viable policy
option, though, to date, most PES programs have focused on the management of different
resources (forests, watersheds). The purpose of this paper is to examine whether PES
could be a viable option to promote sustainable rangelands management in the dry
rangelands of CWANA. Specifically, it focuses on the scientific gaps and knowledge
related to the local and global environmental services produced by rangelands and
addresses questions related to the beneficiaries of these services. Institutional conditions
necessary for the implementation of such schemes are discussed.