The local intermediary organizations, a key actor for the implementation and results of the program of payment for environmental services in Costa Rica

Although its performance has been discussed, the national program of payment for environmental services of Costa Rica (PPES) is considered as a successful experience regarding forest recovery. This paper aims at characterizing the specific contribution of local intermediaries' organizations to the implementation and results of PPES. We show that these organizations are diverse and contribute to PPES environmental and social performances through their capacity to provide a large of set of services to forest owners which facilitate their access to the program and valorize the land use it supported but not by their ability to reduce the costs of access to the program beard by the PPES beneficiaries.