The project seeks to understand whether the concept of environmental services and the practices associated with it address both the global public good as well as the wellbeing of those who are entrusted to ensure its provision. Two major activities will be involved in the project: i) a study of how the social field of payment for ecosystem services is constructed at the local level and the social and cultural impacts it has on the communities who are the targets/beneficiaries of the schemes; ii) investigation of alternative forms of ecosystem services management, specifically different kinds of ‘eco-agriculture/forestry applications and how this relates to wellbeing and ecosystem services provision.