Managing State Trust Lands Fiduciary Duty in the Changing West
In partnership with the Sonoran Institute
Challenges & Opportunities
Ecosystem Services
A fertile area for trust 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 land owners and land managers through incentive programs and market mechanisms for conservation outcomes that create public benefit.For state-trust-land managers, mechanisms that enhance revenues through the recognition of environmental benefits are practical additions to trust management strategies. Mechanisms 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 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:
Download the Executive Summary [88 KB]
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