Challenges & Opportunities

Ecosystem Services

A fertile area for state trust land managers to explore is the marketing of ecosystem services. Increased attention is being paid to the economic values provided by the protection and restoration management of natural systems. There is also greater openness to monetize the value of environmental benefits in order to provide financial rewards to landowners and land managers through incentive programs and market mechanisms for conservation outcomes that create public benefit.

For state trust land managers, systems that enhance revenues through the recognition of environmental benefits are practical additions to trust management strategies. Processes such as mitigation and conservation banking, water quality trading and carbon offsets, along with integrated conservation/development approaches including limited conservation development and sustainable timber and agriculture, are important to staet trust land managers for direct revenue enhancement and for potentially influencing appraisal and auction values of lands targeted for disposition.

For more details on market mechanisms for achieving environmental outcomes:

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