The Katoomba Group's Ecosystem Marketplace

Vol. 2, No. 9: September 25, 2007

The Ecosystem Marketplace's Mitigation Mail
Conservation and Wetland News You Can Bank On

Scaling up

The financing of high-value conservation lands through sustainable land uses got a shot in the arm this month. The Sustainable Land Fund (SLF), which invests in ecological asset opportunities (including mitigation banking) has partnered with MuniMae to greatly expand its resources and impacts. MuniMae arranges debt and equity financing for developers and owners of real estate and clean energy projects. It has over $19 billion in assets under management. SLF will continue MuniMae's growth in the area of environmental assets.

On a related note, EBX (sister organization to SLF and strategic partner to MuniMae) is a step closer to selling endangered mussel credits from its South Carolina bank project as Lancaster County proposed to protect habitat for the endangered Carolina Heelsplitter mussel.

Three other mitigation bank efforts are moving towards establishment. Tulare County, CA is studying the use of a mitigation bank to provide buffer for Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park. Dunnick Lake, in Koochiching County, MN is approved by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineer's to be used as a wetland mitigation bank. And a group of Baton Rouge developers are working to restore Spanish Lake, LA and find a return on investment through mitigation banking.

Wildlands Inc, also recently infused with capital from a partnership with investors, announced this month the addition of Janice O'Brian as Vice President of Finance.

—The Ecosystem Marketplace Team

If you have comments or would like to submit news stories, write to us at mitmail@ecosystemmarketplace.com.

Tulare Co. may bank on credits to preserve park (9/12/07)

Tulare County has ordered a study looking at creating a mitigation bank near Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park, a park dedicated to black history. Such a bank could solve two issues for Tulare County: people haphazardly purchasing easement land and a current bill that would create a 2.5-mile buffer around the park.

  – Read the story
  – Read the story
  – Read the story

Army Corp approves Dunnick Lake for wetland mitigation (9/10/07)

"The Koochiching County [Minnesota] Board is expected to accept the U.S. Army Corp of Engineer's judgment for Dunnick Lake, near Big Falls, to be used as a wetland mitigation bank when it meets Tuesday [9/11/2007]."

– Read the story

County acts to save heelsplitter mussel (9/7/07)

New rules proposed to protect habitat for the endangered Carolina Heelsplitter mussel in Lancaster County, SC. An overlay district is proposed within which projects that are unable to meet the buffer requirements, the developer may purchase credits in the Carolina Heelsplitter Conservation Bank Program, which protects the species in other areas.

– Read the story

MuniMae acquires environmental land investment business (9/6/07)

MuniMae acquired the Sustainable Land Fund (SLF). SLF will continue the Company's growth in the related area of environmental assets. Using market-based solutions, SLF's investments will generate multiple revenue streams from restoration and preservation banking, sustainable timber and agriculture, and limited development.

– Read the press release

Wildlands names Janice O'Brien Vice President of Finance (8/29/07)

Janice O'Brien has been appointed Vice President of Finance for Wildlands Inc. "O'Brien will be responsible for all of the financial strategy and fiscal management for the growing firm, which manages mitigation banking throughout California."

– Read the press release

Developers plan to restore Spanish Lake (8/20/07)

A group of Baton Rouge developers are working to return the entire 5,000 acres of Spanish Lake in Iberia parish to its original state, a bottom land hardwood forest. The plan is to use the restored property as a mitigation bank from which to sell wetland mitigation credits.

– Read the story
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	09/25/2007 - 09/26/2007 GreenPower Conferences - Corporate Climate Response 09/25/2007 - 09/26/2007 GreenPower Conferences - Carbonmarkets India 09/26/2007 - 09/28/2007 7th IETA Forum on the State of the Greenhouse Gas Market



	-	ABN AMRO
	-	BioCarbon Fund
	-	Citigroup
	-	The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
	-	DFID
	-	FAO
	-	Forest Trends
	-	The Katoomba Group
	-	The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
	-	The Nature Conservancy
	-	NRCS
	-	PROFOR
	-	RedLAC
	-	USDA Forest Service