Biodiversity and Habitat Markets
A conservation bank is an area of habitat that is conserved or established to protect its natural resource values, and to preserve the species that benefit from those values. Typically, the area is restored to offset negative impacts occurring on other areas with similar natural resource values and habitat functions. Similarly, a wetland mitigation bank is a wetland, stream, or aquatic resource area that has been restored or established to offset land use in other areas that harms aquatic resources. These types of offsets are often incentivized by regulatory programs such as the Endangered Species Act, or Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, though they may also be voluntary.
Federal Resources
EPA Wetland Mitigation Banking Factsheet
Guidance for the Establishment, Use, and Operation of Conservation Banks
Habitat Conservation Planning and Incidental Take Permit Processing Handbook
Conservation Banking: Incentives for Stewardship
Endangered Species Recovery Credits: Questions and Answers
Other Resources
Environmental Law Institute Compensatory Mitigation Research
Implementing Financial Assurance for Mitigation Project Success
WRI: Insights from the Field: Forests for Species and Habitat
Incentives for Biodiversity Conservation: An Ecological and Economics Assessment