Forests and other land ecosystems are under continuous and increasing economic pressures, such as the expansion of agriculture and other extractive activities like mining and logging. Protecting ecosystems from these pressures will require policies that discourage conversion, such as payments for ecosystem services, which increase the financial attractiveness of standing forests and have been successful in many contexts at reducing deforestation. In 2018, the total global value of payments for ecosystem services was estimated at USD 36 billion in annual transactions. 

Forests and other land ecosystems are under continuous and increasing economic pressures, such as the expansion of agriculture and other extractive activities like mining and logging. Protecting ecosystems from these pressures will require policies that discourage conversion, such as payments for ecosystem services, which increase the financial attractiveness of standing forests and have been successful in many contexts at reducing deforestation. In 2018, the total global value of payments for ecosystem services was estimated at USD 36 billion in annual transactions.