Ruckelshaus Institute
Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources
April 2-3, 2013, Casper, Wyoming
The need for creative solutions to fund long-term conservation has never been greater. Increasingly, new mechanisms to fund conservation will be required to leverage dollars. As we explore new conservation tools – conservation credits, mitigation banking, payment for ecosystem services, markets, and more – there is a growing need in Wyoming and beyond to better understand these options. This forum will build an informational foundation about a range of conservation finance tools, both established and emerging. Speakers will share real-world applications, success stories, and challenges using various conservation finance models in government and the private sector to inspire further practice of conservation finance in Wyoming. Wednesday, participants will tour a proposed mitigation bank on the Pathfinder Ranch near Alcova.
Proceedings
The April 2013 Wyoming Forum on Conservation Finance: Creative Approaches to Sustain
Land and Water proceedings are now available online.
Learn why we need conservation finance, the basic tools and structures of conservation
financing, and some of the emerging approaches to leverage private and public funds
for conservation.
Agenda and Presentation Slides
Setting the Stage: Why We Need Conservation Finance
8:00 a.m. |
Welcome, Purpose, and “What is conservation finance?” |
8:10 a.m. |
Conservation Finance and the Governor's Energy Strategy |
8:30 a.m. |
A Global View: Common themes, common issues |
The Basics: Conservation Finance Tools and Structures
9:00 a.m. |
Conservation Finance for Everyone |
9:45 a.m. |
Break |
10:00 a.m. |
Wildlife Habitat Exchanges: Moving from practices to quantified outcomes |
10:30 a.m. |
Mitigation Banking and Credit Trading |
11:00 a.m. |
Leveraging State Investment with Public Support |
11:30 a.m. |
Local Conservation Finance: The Sheridan County Ballot Initiative |
Distinguished Speaker
Noon |
Lunch provided |
12:45 p.m. |
Lunchtime keynote: Mark Gordon, Wyoming State Treasurer |
Market-based Approaches to Conservation Finance
1:30 p.m. |
Market Approaches to Water Management |
2:00 p.m. |
Lessons from Texas: The Golden-cheeked Warbler and the Dune Sagebrush Lizard |
2:30 p.m. |
The Upper Green River Conservation Exchange |
3:00 p.m. |
Break |
Public-Private Partnerships: Lessons from Wyoming
3:30 p.m. |
Panel Discussion Natural Gas Mitigation in Southwest Wyoming (JIO-PAPO): Using private lands to offset
impacts on public lands |
4:50 p.m. |
Closing Remarks |
5:00 p.m. |
Reception |
Wednesday, April 3
Field Trip
8:30 a.m. |
Depart from Casper for Pathfinder Ranch |
9:30 a.m. |
Implementing Mitigation and Conservation Banks |
10:45 a.m. |
Field Tour of Proposed Mitigation Bank |
11:30 a.m. |
Lunch |
12:30 p.m. |
Depart for Casper |
1:30 p.m. |
Return to Casper |
Hosts and sponsors
The Forum on Conservation Finance was hosted by:
The Ruckelshaus Institute, supporting stakeholder-driven solutions to complex environmental and natural resources challenges by communicating relevant research and promoting collaborative decision making.
The Stroock Forum on Wyoming Lands and People, creating open dialogue between private citizens and public policy makers about the future of economic development and environmental quality in Wyoming and the West.
The Nature Conservancy, protecting the lands and waters that make Wyoming the place we love to play, work and live.
With sponsorship from:
If you have questions, feel free to contact the Ruckelshaus Institute at ruckelshaus@uwyo.edu or (307) 766-5080.