National wetland mitigation banking study. Expanding opportunities for successful mitigation: The private credit market alternative

Date

1994

Authors

Shabman, L.
Scodari, P.
King, D.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Abstract

This report: (1) explains the concept and functioning of private markets in wetland mitigation credits; (2) describes the potential to help the Federal wetland regulatory program achieve the national goal of no-net-loss in wetland function and acreage; and (3) explains the regulatory conditions necessary for the widespread emergence and ecological success of this mitigation alternative. This report was prepared as a part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Institute for Water Resources National Wetland Mitigation Banking Study. The vast majority of mitigation banks today are single-user banks--largely developed to provide the sponsor's compensatory mitigation needs. By contrast, private mitigation credit markets would encourage entrepreneurs to establish commercial mitigation banks from which credits would be sold to wetland developers in need of compensatory mitigation. Such markets could help the nation achieve no-net-loss of wetlands by increasing the opportunity to obtain successful compensatory mitigation for permitted wetland losses.

Description

75 p.

Keywords

wetland mitigation banking (WMB), wetlands, restoration, financial institutions, commercial banking, planning, banking, wetland restoration, wetland loss

Citation