3. Methodology and study site
My findings and arguments are based on research conducted in
Costa Rica from 2007–2008, and 2011–2012. I conducted inter-
views with thirty subjects, many of whom were closely involved
in PES formulation and implementation. These include managers
and employees at the National Forestry Financing Fund (FONA-
FIFO; the quasi-state agency that manages PES), employees associ-
ated with closely related government ministries, employees of
forestry NGOs that enroll landowners in PES as well as experts
on the country’s forestry industry. I also interviewed members of
environmental and peasant organizations that have historically
been opposed to PES. Interviews were centered on the relation of
PES to the forestry sector and the history of PES policy develop-
ment. In addition to qualitative work, I utilize a number of statis-
tics and assessments concerning the country’s forestry and
agricultural sectors that are available through state institutions
and industry trade groups. These statistics are used along with data
provided by FONAFIFO concerning payments and recipients. My
empirical claims about the trees that result from reforestation pay-
ments come from data provided by FONAFIFO’s San Carlos regional
office, which covers PES implementation in the country’s North
Caribbean plain, otherwise known as the Huetar Norte region.