Conservation Banks
• Click here to read NMBA's pamphlet on conservation banking
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, or are 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. Developers or other project proponents who need to compensate for the adverse impacts projects have on species may purchase the credits from conservation bank owners to mitigate their impacts.
In the early 1990s, the FWS began approving conservation banks for a variety of federally-listed species. As of January 2009, more than 90 conservation banks have been approved by the FWS protecting over 90,000 acres of habitat. In what has been termed "a hallmark event in the 30-year history of the Endangered Species Act," the FWS issued the first comprehensive Federal guidelines in May 2003 to promote conservation banks as a tool for mitigating adverse impacts to species. Although no two banks will be developed or used in an identical fashion, the guidelines foster national consistency by standardizing establishment and operational criteria.
Conservation banks are a viable tool for advancing the recovery of listed species. The offset structure enabled by conservation banks provides a mechanism for the FWS staff to balance the needs of all the constituents in a clear and effective manner.
Partial list of Species Currently Protected by Conservation Banks:
- Black-capped vireo - TX
- California Coastal Gnatcatcher - CA
- California Tiger Salamander - CA
- Carolina Heelsplitter - SC
- Chinook Salmon - CA, WA
- Conservancy Fairy Shrimp - CA
- Florida Panther - FL
- Florida Scrub Jay - FL
- Giant Garter Snake- CA
- Giant Kangaroo Rat - CA
- Golden Cheeked Warbler - TX
- Gopher Tortoise - MS
- Oregon Chub - 0R
- San Joaquin Kit Fox - CA
- Sand Skink - FL
- Utah Prairie Dog - UT
- Steelhead - CA
- Cheat Mountain Salamander - WV
- Western Burrowing Owl - CA
- Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle - CA
- Delta Smelt - CA
- Swainson's Hawk - CA
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