The conservation of biodiversity is now big business. Whether called conservation banking, species banking, habitat banking, biodiversity banking, biodiversity offsets, compensatory mitigation or ecological footprint offsetting, the idea of financially valuing biodiversity and using the market and businesses to promote conservation is growing rapidly. This handbook is a comprehensive guide to conservation banking, explaining what it is and how it works. Written by leading ecosystem market experts, the book provides practical guidance, tools, case studies, analysis and insights into conservation banking and other market-based approaches to conservation. Coverage includes the origins of conservation banking, the pros and cons for conservation, how conservation banking works in reality, the legal, practical and financial aspects of setting up and running a conservation bank and how 'biodiversity off-sets' can be internationalized. Published with Ecosystem Marketplace

Forewords by Tom Albanese and Stephanie Meeks * Part I: Overview * Introduction * History and Theory: The Origin and Evolution of Conservation Banking * The Advantages and Opportunities * The Pitfalls and Challenges * Part II: Establishing A Conservation Bank * Ecological Considerations * Legal Considerations * Regulatory Considerations * Business Considerations * Financial Considerations * Part III: State of the Art * Fish Banking * Getting Two for One: Opportunities and Challenges in Credit Stacking * The Marine Leap: Conservation Banking and the Brave New World * Part IV: Going Global * Biodiversity Offsets * Australia's Biodiversity Credits * Part V: Conclusion * The Future of Biodiversity Offset Banking * Index