Topic: Land Conservation

Commentary

Five Things We Can Do in the Next 24 Months to Mobilize Major Investments in Ecosystem Restoration and Climate Resilience

Source: Forest Trends
A key goal of the Environmental Markets and Finance Summit, hosted by Forest Trends and AEMI, was to begin mapping out what a coordinated financial strategy could look like, in order to scale up global restoration and sustainable land use dramatically. Environmental markets (the most prominent of which focus on carbon offsets, wetland and habitat credits, sustainably certified products, and water quality offsets and trading) have matured mostly in silos. It is time to start putting the pieces together and cross-pollinating solutions.
External News

Sentinel Landscapes Partnership Announces a New Interactive Landowner Resources Tool

Source: Sentinel Landscapes Partnership
The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership recently introduced an Interactive Landowner Resources Tool. By compiling over 300 landowner assistance programs in a single, user-friendly location, this product makes it easier for you to find voluntary, state and federal landowner assistance programs. In addition, the updated website includes interactive GIS maps and information pertaining to local Sentinel Landscape events, project highlights and funding data.
External News

USDA Funds Conservation Innovation Across the Country With $12.5m in Grants for New Tools and Technologies

Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is awarding about $12.5 million in grants to support the development of innovative systems and technologies for private lands conservation. The funding is provided through the Conservation Innovation Grants program, which is funding the future of agriculture and conservation through grants to organizations and universities that are developing the next generation of tools and technologies to boost conservation on agricultural lands.
Forest in Royalston, MA

Royalston, MA / Tyler Frost / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Conservation’s Role in Philanthropic Giving Is Changing

Maki Tazawa
Several recent reports, as well as observations from experts in the field, demonstrate a changing landscape of philanthropic conservation giving. Now, foundations more often incorporate broader social and environmental issues into conservation work. They also frequently approach conservation through the lens of climate change.
Commentary

The Most Important Conservation Law You’ve Never Heard Of

Source: Conservation International
In January 2019, U.S. President Donald Trump signed into law the Tropical Forest Conservation Act (TFCA), a reauthorization of a landmark conservation law that lapsed in 2014. Over its 26 years in effect, TFCA generated more than $339 million for tropical forest conservation. Its reauthorization is considered a success for U.S. and foreign governments’ economies, nature and people.
Reports

Why Companies Are Making the Case for Conservation

Source: The Nature Conservancy
The white paper shows that, while there are barriers to fully embedding nature-based solutions within an organization, companies can leverage specific strategies to accelerate the process and yield positive outcomes for business and nature.
Lily in Upstate New York

Using Financial Models Sets up Land Trusts for Success

Shea Flanagan
Financial modeling is an emerging application for land trusts. It could make a great difference in their ability to forecast and plan for various future financial scenarios. At this year’s Land Trust Alliance Rally conference during the “Your Future: Financial Modeling for Long-Term Stability” workshop, the Dutchess Land Conservancy of Dutchess County, N.Y., presented a financial model it developed.
River in Maine

How to Get an Impact Investor's Attention

Jeffrey Conti
Conservation managers and entrepreneurs who are looking to make their projects stand out as investment opportunities should be sure to supply the information that investors want. Impact investing experts interviewed by Conservation Finance Network expressed a surprising lack of interest in most impact metrics and measurements aside from carbon sequestration. They instead indicated that they prioritize honest assessments of risk. They also value an understanding of how an investment opportunity can fit into a larger portfolio.

Impact Investors Discuss How They View Conservation Investments

Jeffrey Conti
There is a growing gap between available impact capital and conservation investments. This has become a major focal point for investment professionals in the field. One reason for this trend may be that conservation investments are not meeting investor expectations due to a lack of quality opportunities.