Conservation Incentives Discussion

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Conservation Incentives

• New concept:“payments for ecosystem services”

• Pay ranchers for ecological benefits of land management practices

• Voluntary, non-regulatory approach to sustainable land management

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Ranching and Conservation

• Sustainable ranching is essential to large-landscape conservation

• Land management by ranchers is vital to maintain healthy habitat

• Ranching provides large blocks of open, relatively undisturbed land for wildlife

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Benefits of Conservation Incentives

• Diversifies income sources of ranching

• Provides capital to implement conservation practices (i.e., water, erosion control)

• Increases public recognition of the value of sustainable range management

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Key Elements of Conservation Incentive Programs

A. Who pays?

• Governments (state or federal)

• Non-governmental Organizations (conservation groups or foundations)

• Private Equity (investor dollars)

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Key Elements of Conservation Incentive Programs

B. What does the program pay for?

• Outcome-based (improvement above baseline)

• Input-based (practices resulting in improvement)

• Planning

• Management assistance/technical assistance

• Emergency assistance

• Other

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Key Elements of Conservation Incentive Programs

C. How does the program pay for these things?• Credits • Term contracts (cost share, full cost)

D. How long must a rancher provide services?• Fixed period (not forever), or• Permanently

E. Regulatory assurances

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Examples?• Florida Ranchlands Environmental Services Project (FRESP)

– Partnership between local, state, and federal agencies; the Florida Cattleman’s Association; and the World Wildlife Fund

– Voluntary program to increase water retention on ranches to restore the Everglades

– 10 year contracts pay the cost of implementing the management practices and an annual lump-sum payment for maintaining the practice

• Grass Banking– The Malpai Borderlands Group pioneered the grass bank concept– Area is set aside to provide forage for ranchers when forage on their home

ranch is unavailable or limited– Provide a way to help ranchers overcome drought, implement restoration

projects that require resting pastures, or other circumstance that limit the availability of forage on their ranch

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QUESTION 1

Based on what you’ve heard, what would be the key elements to create a workable

conservation incentives program for ranchers in the Southwest?

Things to think about…What would it focus on?What are the real needs on the ground?What types of incentives would help you?

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QUESTION 2

Are you comfortable with the idea of making conservation part of your

business model?

Things to think about…Could supplement ranching income, but may

require changes to your operationPositives and negatives?

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QUESTION 3

What types of payments are you most comfortable with?

Things to think about…On-going or one-time paymentsTechnical assistanceEmergency paymentsLength

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QUESTION 4

What types of regulatory assurances would you need to participate in a conservation

incentives program?

Things to think about…Safe harbor agreementNo government involvement or fundsOthers?

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QUESTION 5

If a conservation incentives program were to proceed, what would be the necessary

elements for it to work for you?

Things to think about…Would you consider participating in the

development of a program?

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QUESTION 6

May we contact you?

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