Analyzing the feasibility of establishing a conservation ... · bank to benefit Greater Sage-grouse...
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Acknowledgements Analyzing the feasibility of establishing a conservation bank to benefit Greater Sage-grouse in Montana Recommendations Case Study: White Rock 4. Financial Assessment Should the American Prairie Reserve Establish a Conservation Bank? Background 3. Market Analysis Annual Operating Costs: -Livestock Management -Fire Management -Noxious Weeds Management -Predator Management -West Nile Virus Prevention -Recreation -Sage Grouse Lek Counts -5 Year Aerial Lek Surveys -Habitat Surveys -Annual Reporting 2. Habitat Quantification Surface Feature Impacts % Habitat Functionality Vegetation Quality 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 Total Number of Wells Time Total New Oil and Gas Wells (1980-2016) 1980 - 2016 2010 - 2016 Linear (1980 - 2016) Linear (2010 - 2016) Conservation Easement 3% Consulting & Legal Drafting 20% Endowment Establishment 72% Pre-Bank Restoration 5% Decline of the Greater Sage-Grouse Montana Conservation Strategy Exchange Administrator Private Land Owners Credit Supply U.S Fish and Wildlife Service Guidance and Certification Habitat Conversion and Development Credit Demand • Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) are large, ground- dwelling birds that reside in large expanses of sagebrush habitat in western North America and are an indicator of the overall health of these ecosystems • Habitat has been reduced and fragmented due to land use changes including agriculture, energy development, transportation infrastructure, and residential development. • Range currently encompasses 56% of its historical extent Vegetation • Successful habitat quantification measures the quality of grouse habitat in specific categories • Preferred breeding habitat attributes: Sagebrush Cover: 15-45% Sagebrush Height: 20-45 cm Grass height: >12 cm Grass cover: >9% Forb cover: >5% Distance to closest lek: 0-6 km Threats • Human structures create artificial perches for avian predators such as ravens, hawks, and eagles • Noise from road traffic, construction, and energy development reduces lek attendance • Direct mortality from fence and vehicle collisions 31% 69% Market Share American Prairie Reserve Other Suppliers Revenue: $1,275,522 Profit: $258,230 Benefit/Cost Ratio: 1.25 All Credits Sold in 2 Years 1. Assess ability of conservation banks to benefit target species 2. Translate habitat quality into currency 3. Estimate market for credits Conduct literature review Develop a tool to consistently quantify habitat for Greater Sage-grouse Project on-site supply of credits, statewide market share, and annual credit demand from oil and gas development 4. Conduct financial assessment Estimate cost of creating and managing a bank, expected annual returns, and profitability Banks encourage habitat conservation on private property by turning the presence of an at- risk species into an asset instead of a liability. Landowners that permanently protect high quality habitat can sell “credits” to developers who are required to offset their impacts in core habitat. Developers benefit from the one-time purchase of credits, instead of having to purchase land, certify credits, and perpetually manage properties on their own. Key Results of Literature Review on Effective Banks: • Use a consistent mechanism for quantifying protected or restored habitat into tradable credits • Provide an added benefit to the species • Ensure long-term protection and management • Can recoup initial investment and cover operating costs in perpetuity Objectives Methods Summary 1. Efficacy of Banks - Conservation banks can theoretically provide additional benefits to target species due to the permanent protection and management of large expanses of habitat, yet must be carefully regulated and managed 2. Habitat Quantification – Developed a habitat quantification method that translates habitat quality into tradable credits 3. Market Assessment – Projected oil and gas development will provide sufficient demand for credits in the state 4. Financial Analysis • Financially profitable in 2 years • Estimated credit price of $236 • Large upfront investment of roughly $1 million, mainly from the establishment of an endowment fund to cover annual operating costs We recommend that APR participate in a conservation bank IF: • Montana regulatory framework for mitigation meets identified efficacy requirements • Quantification method accurately captures habitat values • There is no alternate, more beneficial use of client funds • Ensures additional benefits to Greater Sage-grouse • In 2015 the US Fish and Wildlife Service declined to list Sage-grouse as endangered due to ongoing state conservation actions • Unlike other western states, the majority of Sage-grouse habitat in Montana is located on private property, making it crucial to engage private landowners in conservation • Montana implemented a “core area” strategy which designates special requirements on development in critical habitat that includes 76% of Montana’s Sage-grouse population • Development within core areas will be required to assess, avoid, minimize, and offset any harm to Sage-grouse habitat • One way to offset impacts is through the purchase of habitat mitigation “credits” • Credits can be granted to private landowners who agree to legally protect sage- grouse habitat on their property • White Rock, spanning 8,803 acres, is one of American Prairie Reserve’s properties in Phillips County, MT • It currently has both high quality grouse habitat (green) as well as retired crop fields that could be targeted for restoration (yellow) • There are 3 breeding areas (leks) on-site, and 10 within 4 miles • Our habitat quantification method estimated a functionality of 63.3% • 8,803 acres X 63.3% = 5,573 functional acres (available credits) We would like to thank the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management for its support during this project, in particular our Faculty Advisor Dr. Gary Libecap, our Ph.D Advisor Renato Molina, and Dr. Sarah Anderson. In addition, we would like to thank Kyran Kunkel, our main contact at the American Prairie Reserve, and Sara Brodnax from the Environmental Defense Fund. References: Holloran et al. (2015) Scientific methods document, version 3. http://www.wyomingconservationexchange.org/wp- content/uploads/2014/08/WY_Sage_Grouse_HQT_May01_2015.pdf. Manier et al. (2013) Summary of science, activities, programs, and policies that influence the rangewide persistence of Greater Sage-grouse. US Geological Survey. Montana Executive Order 12-2015. https://governor.mt.gov/Portals/16/docs/2015EOs/EO_12_2015_Sage_Grouse.pdf. Schroeder et al. (2003) Fidelity of Greater Sage-Grouse Centrocercus urophasianus to breeding areas in a fragmented landscape. Wildlife Biology Direct Costs: $1,017,292 Bradley Bowers | Katherine Day Jeff Cedarbaum | Donald Macaskill 1. 2. 3. High projection: 32 new wells per year Low projection: 7 new wells per year 4. Courtesy of: Montana Sage-Grouse Oversight Team, 2016. Statewide Demand: 16,615 Credits Per Year Clients Market Share: 31% of State Credit Supply 1. Conservation Banking
Transcript of Analyzing the feasibility of establishing a conservation ... · bank to benefit Greater Sage-grouse...
Acknowledgements
Analyzing the feasibility of establishing a conservation bank to benefit Greater Sage-grouse in Montana
RecommendationsCase Study: White Rock
4. Financial Assessment
Should the American Prairie Reserve
Establish a Conservation Bank?
Background 3. Market Analysis
Annual Operating Costs:-Livestock Management-Fire Management-Noxious Weeds Management-Predator Management-West Nile Virus Prevention-Recreation-Sage Grouse Lek Counts-5 Year Aerial Lek Surveys-Habitat Surveys-Annual Reporting
2. Habitat Quantification
Surface Feature Impacts % Habitat FunctionalityVegetation Quality
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016
To
tal N
um
be
r o
f W
ell
s
Time
Total New Oil and Gas Wells (1980-2016)
1980 - 2016 2010 - 2016
Linear (1980 - 2016) Linear (2010 - 2016)
Conservation Easement
3%
Consulting & Legal Drafting
20%
Endowment Establishment
72%
Pre-Bank Restoration
5%
Decline of the Greater Sage-Grouse
Montana Conservation Strategy
Exchange
Administrator
Private Land Owners
Credit
Supply
U.S Fish and Wildlife Service
Guidance
and
Certification
Habitat Conversion and
Development
Credit
Demand
• Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) are large, ground-dwelling birds that reside in large expanses of sagebrush habitat in western North America and are an indicator of the overall health of these ecosystems
• Habitat has been reduced and fragmented due to land use changes including agriculture, energy development, transportation infrastructure, and residential development.
• Range currently encompasses 56% of its historical extent
Vegetation• Successful habitat quantification measures the
quality of grouse habitat in specific categories• Preferred breeding habitat attributes:
Sagebrush Cover: 15-45% Sagebrush Height: 20-45 cm Grass height: >12 cm Grass cover: >9% Forb cover: >5% Distance to closest lek: 0-6 km
Threats• Human structures create artificial perches for avian predators such
as ravens, hawks, and eagles• Noise from road traffic, construction, and energy development
reduces lek attendance• Direct mortality from fence and vehicle collisions
31%
69%
MarketShare
American Prairie Reserve Other Suppliers
Revenue: $1,275,522
Profit: $258,230
Benefit/Cost Ratio: 1.25
All Credits Sold in 2 Years
1.Assess ability of conservation banks to benefit target species
2. Translate habitat quality into currency
3. Estimate market for credits
Conduct literature review
Develop a tool to consistently quantify habitat for Greater Sage-grouse
Project on-site supply of credits, statewide market share, and annual credit demand from oil and gas development
4. Conduct financial assessment
Estimate cost of creating and managing a bank, expected annual returns, and profitability
Banks encourage habitat conservation on private property by turning the presence of an at-risk species into an asset instead of a liability. Landowners that permanently protect high quality habitat can sell “credits” to developers who are required to offset their impacts in core habitat. Developers benefit from the one-time purchase of credits, instead of having to purchase land, certify credits, and perpetually manage properties on their own.
Key Results of Literature Review on Effective Banks:• Use a consistent mechanism for quantifying protected or restored habitat into tradable
credits• Provide an added benefit to the species • Ensure long-term protection and management• Can recoup initial investment and cover operating costs in perpetuity
Objectives Methods
Summary
1. Efficacy of Banks - Conservation banks can theoretically provide additional benefits to target species due to the permanent protection and management of large expanses of habitat, yet must be carefully regulated and managed
2. Habitat Quantification – Developed a habitat quantification method that translates habitat quality into tradable credits
3. Market Assessment – Projected oil and gas development will provide sufficient demand for credits in the state
4. Financial Analysis • Financially profitable in 2 years• Estimated credit price of $236• Large upfront investment of roughly $1 million, mainly from the
establishment of an endowment fund to cover annual operating costs
We recommend that APR participate in a conservation bank IF:
• Montana regulatory framework for mitigation meets identified efficacy requirements
• Quantification method accurately captures habitat values
• There is no alternate, more beneficial use of client funds
• Ensures additional benefits to Greater Sage-grouse
• In 2015 the US Fish and Wildlife Service declined to list Sage-grouse as endangered due to ongoing state conservation actions
• Unlike other western states, the majority of Sage-grouse habitat in Montana is located on private property, making it crucial to engage private landowners in conservation
• Montana implemented a “core area” strategy which designates special requirements on development in critical habitat that includes 76% of Montana’s Sage-grouse population
• Development within core areas will be required to assess, avoid, minimize, and offset any harm to Sage-grouse habitat
• One way to offset impacts is through the purchase of habitat mitigation “credits” • Credits can be granted to private landowners who agree to legally protect sage-
grouse habitat on their property
• White Rock, spanning 8,803 acres, is one of American Prairie Reserve’s properties in Phillips County, MT
• It currently has both high quality grouse habitat (green) as well as retired crop fields that could be targeted for restoration (yellow)
• There are 3 breeding areas (leks) on-site, and 10 within 4 miles• Our habitat quantification method estimated a functionality of 63.3%• 8,803 acres X 63.3% = 5,573 functional acres (available credits)
We would like to thank the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management for its support during this project, in particular our Faculty Advisor Dr. Gary Libecap, our Ph.D Advisor Renato Molina, and Dr. Sarah Anderson. In addition, we would like to thank Kyran Kunkel, our main contact at the American Prairie Reserve, and Sara Brodnax from the Environmental Defense Fund.
References:Holloran et al. (2015) Scientific methods document, version 3. http://www.wyomingconservationexchange.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/WY_Sage_Grouse_HQT_May01_2015.pdf. Manier et al. (2013) Summary of science, activities, programs, and policies that influence the rangewide persistence of Greater Sage-grouse. US Geological Survey.Montana Executive Order 12-2015. https://governor.mt.gov/Portals/16/docs/2015EOs/EO_12_2015_Sage_Grouse.pdf.Schroeder et al. (2003) Fidelity of Greater Sage-Grouse Centrocercus urophasianus to breeding areas in a fragmented landscape. Wildlife Biology
Direct Costs: $1,017,292
Bradley Bowers | Katherine DayJeff Cedarbaum | Donald Macaskill
1.
2.
3.
High projection: 32 new wells per year
Low projection: 7 new wells per year
4.
Courtesy of: Montana Sage-Grouse Oversight Team, 2016.
Statewide Demand:16,615 Credits Per Year
Clients Market Share:31% of State Credit Supply
1. Conservation Banking
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