What happens when the poor and decision makers disagree about ecosystem management? Working in India, this project has shown how scientific experts and local villagers can have very different opinions as to what underlies changes in services such as water availability as a result of their differences in access to knowledge and world views. The establishment of PES schemes can also lead to conflict as some individuals loose out in terms of access to resources, social status and political influence. Clearly, decision makers may not always understand the ways in which poor and marginalised groups perceive and value ecosystem services.