Basins and Coasts is the newsletter for the USAID Integrated Management of Coastal and Freshwater Systems Program, which features two separate but collaborative programs. The IMCAFS-SUCCESS program (Sustainable Coastal Communities and Ecosystems) emphasizes coastal resources, aquaculture and fisheries management (http://www.crc.uri.edu/SUCCESS/). The IMCAFS-GLOWS program (Global Water for Sustainability) focuses on integrated management of freshwater resources (http://globalwaters.net). The newsletter team is: Elizabeth Anderson, Bob Bowen, Don Robadue, and Lesley Squillante. You can reach us at newsletter@imcafs.org. 2008 Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island http://www.imcafs.org/coastsheds/index.php en-us Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400 Natural Resources Management http://www.imcafs.org/coastsheds/index.php http://www.imcafs.org/images/bclogoheader.png http://www.imcafs.org/coastsheds/issues/Vol2Issue2.pdf Vol: 2 Issue:2. Welcome to the fifth issue of Basins and Coasts, which explores the theme of protection and valuation of ecosystem services, with specific focus on Payment for Ecosystem [or Environmental] Services (PES) programs. Over the past decade, PES programs have been applied worldwide as a tool for integrating environmental conservation, poverty reduction, governance and enterprise development. Today the literature on PES is broad, with many examples of PES programs documented in scholarly journals and technical papers. Several lessons have been learned, yet some unanswered questions still remain. What is the appropriate scale (geographic, temporal) at which PES programs should be implemented? How can equity issues be incorporated into PES programs and do they really result in poverty reduction? How effective really are PES programs as a tool for environmental conservation? What are some of the new frontiers for PES programs? The articles in this issue address these themes, while exploring case studies of PES programs from around the world. Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.imcafs.org/coastsheds/issues/article_2_2_1.pdf Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400 Mahadev G. Bhat and Michael McClain http://www.imcafs.org/coastsheds/issues/article_2_2_2.pdf Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400 Robert D. Brumbaugh and Caitlyn Toropova http://www.imcafs.org/coastsheds/issues/article_2_2_3.pdf Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400 Esteve Corbera and Nicolás Kosoy http://www.imcafs.org/coastsheds/issues/article_2_2_4.pdf Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400 David C. Le Maitre http://www.imcafs.org/coastsheds/issues/article_2_2_5.pdf Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400 Jessica L. Schedlbauer, Steven E. Sesnie, and Wayde C. Morse