Conservation Finance Strategies
Conservation Easements
We are a firm committed to conservation and the economic benefits of sustainable land planning. One way that we have applied our conservation principles is by preparing feasible and practical by-right development plans and post development costs analyses. This exercise assists in appraising the value of land necessary to d etermine allowable tax credits associated with conservation easements. Often this work is done in conjunction with the master planning for the vision of the property to which the owner truly aspires.
Payment for Ecosystem Services
Through a wide range of market-based conservation finance mechanisms, landowner incentive programs and innovative land use strategies, FSC is able to assist clients with the development and realization (of previously unrealized) ecological and natural resource asset values by utilizing emerging market-based payments for ecosystem services derived from land and water resources. Land and water resources have historically been valued for their ability to provide basic goods, such as food and wood fiber, but they deliver other important services that are often perceived to be free and limitless—air and water purification, flood and climate regulation, biodiversity, and scenic landscapes are just a few of the recognized ecosystems. As populations and the demand for resources grow, it has become clear that ecosystem services are not free, invulnerable, or infinitely available. Assigning economic value to ecosystem services is creating a paradigm shift regarding how business and society view sustainability and management environment, social responsibility, and business opportunities. Examples of market-based ecosystem services opportunities may include carbon sequestration offsets, wetland and stream mitigation banking, conservation banking and water quality trading.
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Little Mountain Ranch
Highland County, Virginia
Client: Private Client
Acreage: 1,800
Completed: 2006
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Brickhouse Neck Farm
Northampton County, Virginia
Client: Private Client
Acreage: 1,278
Completed: 2005
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Panorama Farms
Albemarle County, Virginia
Client: Private Client
Acreage: 1,038
Completed: 1990 & 1998
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