For Landowners | Conservation Banking

(top left): Gopher Tortoise (juvenile)

Photo credit: Randy Browning, USFWS

(bottom left): Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle (female)

Photo credit: Brian Hansen, USFWS

(right): Florida Panther

Photo credit: George Gentry, USFWS

What do these species have in common?

They are all benefiting from high quality habitat preserved in conservation banks.

What are conservation banks?

Conservation banks are permanently protected lands that contain natural resource values. These lands are conserved and permanently managed for species that are endangered, threatened, candidates for listing as endangered or threatened, or are otherwise species-at-risk.

Conservation banks function to offset adverse impacts to these species that occurred elsewhere, sometimes referred to as off-site mitigation. In exchange for permanently protecting the land and managing it for these species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) approves a specified number of habitat or species credits that bank owners may sell. Learn More

   States with Conservation Banks
    The USFWS has approved conservation banks in 10 States and Saipan.

    Information on Service-approved banks can be found in RIBITS, the Regulatory In-lieu
    Fee and Bank Tracking System. Click here or the map below to enter RIBITS.

Did you know the U.S. fish and Wildlife Service has approved more than 130 conservation banks nationwide that collectively conserve more than 160,000 acres of valuable habitat for more than 70 threatened or endangered species?

View the Interim Guidance for Implementing the Endangered Species Act Compensatory Mitigation Policy [582KB]

View the Final Policy [12/27/2016]

For an overview see the Conservation Banking Fact Sheet. [170KB]

For all the details, download the Conservation Banking Guidance. [216KB]

Latest News

Proposed Policy will Help Address Impacts of Development on Nation's Most At-Risk Species, Preserve Environmental Legacy for Future Generations [8/31/2016]

Conservation Banking Course - National offering at NCTC, August 7-11, 2017

National Mitigation and Ecosystem Banking Conference in Sacramento, California,
May 9-12, 2017

NEW - DOI Report on USFWS Conservation Banking Program (September 2016)

Featured Bank

Florida Panther
Conservation Bank

With miles of coastline, beautiful beaches, ample sunshine, and unique places like the Everglades and the Keys, it's no wonder Florida calls to many. While a growing human population and subsequent development may be unavoidable, the loss of the state's native wildlife doesn't have to be... Learn more.

Previous Stories:
Ohlone Preserve Conservation Bank
Elsie Gridley Mitigation Bank

Contact Us

If you would like more information on conservation banking, please contact the Regional Office with responsibility for the state or territory in which the project is being proposed.