THE ROLE OF THE MOUNTAIN MESOPHYLL FOREST IN THE “PAYMENT FOR HYDROLOGIC ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES” PROGRAMS IN MÉXICO

Abstract

The arguments and national context that motivated the creation of several types of hydrological services payment programs (programas de pago por servicios hidrológicos, PSAH) in México were reviewed, as well as their performance. The role that the mountain mesophyll forest (MMF) has played in these programs is described, highlighting several important studies about the local climate, determining the capacity of
the MMF to contribute to the annual expenditure in basins with PSAHs. In particular, it is noted that in the basins of central Veracruz there are not apt conditions for the MMF as an important source of water at annual scales. However, there is evidence of its importance in the regulation of the base flow and water quality. The way in which these benefits could interest many government instances, which are yet to finance these programs, is shown, highlighting a call to support more hydrological studies and constant monitoring of the basins with PSAHs.