The conservation of biodiversity is now big business. Whether called conservation banking, species banking, habitat banking, biodiversity banking, biodiversity offsets, compensatory mitigation or ecological footprint offsetting, the idea of financially valuing biodiversity and using the market and businesses to promote conservation is growing rapidly.

This handbook is a comprehensive guide to conservation banking explaining: what it is and how it works. The book covers the origins of conservation banking; the pros and cons of this approach to conservation, how conservation banking works in reality; the legal, practical and financial aspects of setting up and running a conservation bank; and how biodiversity off-sets can be internationalized. Authored by leading experts in the field of ecosystem markets, the book provides practical guidance, tools, case studies, analysis and insights into conservation banking in the United States, its biodiversity banking namesake in Australia and other similar approaches internationally.

It is an essential one-stop reference manual for conservation organizations, private landowners, developers, complying industries, regulating agencies, policy makers, bank developers and investors in the US, Australia, Europe and elsewhere where market-based solutions to the loss of biodiversity and species extinction are being considered.

Table of Contents:

Forewords—Tom Albanese and Stephanie Meeks
List of Authors
Acknowledgements
List of Acronyms and Abbreviations
List of Figures, Tables and Boxes
PART I OVERVIEW
1) Introduction—Ricardo Bayan, Nathaniel Carroll and Jessica Fox
2) History and Theory: The Origin and Evolution of Conservation Banking—Deborah L. Mead
3) The Advantages and Opportunities—Wayne White
4) The Pitfalls and Challenges—Deborah Fleischer and Jessica Fox
PART II: ESTABLISHING A CONSERVATION BANK
5) Ecological Considerations—Robert bonnie and David S. Wilcove
6) Legal Considerations—Royal C. Gardner
7) Regulatory Considerations—Susan Hill
8) Business Considerations—Craig Denisoff
9) Financial Considerations—Sherry Teresa
PART III STATE OF THE ART
10) Fish Banking—Tom Cannon and Howard Brown
11) Getting Two for One: Opportunities and Challenges in Credit Stacking—Jessica Fox
12) The Marine Leap: Conservation Banking and the Brave New World—Tundi Agardy
PART IV: GOING GLOBAL
13) Biodiversity Offsets—Kerry ten Kate and Mira Inbar
14) Australia’s Biodiversity Credits—James Shields
PART V CONCLUSION
15) The Future of Biodiversity Offset Banking—Nathaniel Carroll, Ricardo Bayon and Jessica Fox
Appendix I: US Federal Guidance for Conservation Banks
Appendix II: Template for a Conservation Bank Agreement
Appendix III: Template for a Bank’s Conservation Easement
Appendix IV: Template for a Credit Sales Agreement
Index