Compensatory Mitigation Webinar 2: Funding Mechanisms

Webinar 2 – Compensatory Mitigation: Funding Mechanisms

Monday, October 2nd, 4:00PM – 5:00PM (EST)

This webinar introduced two of the more common methods for instituting compensatory mitigation: mitigation banks and in lieu fee programs. Speakers provided backgrounds on how each of these mechanisms work and provided case studies under which these programs have been used to conserve wildlife affected by wind energy development.

Moderator: 

• Dr. Shilo K. Felton (Senior Scientist and Wind Program Lead, Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute)
  • Shilo Felton is a Senior Scientist supporting REWI’s work in developing science, tools, and strategies for wind siting and operations that minimize impacts on wildlife and wildlife habitats. She has over ten years of experience in wildlife conservation science, working with USFWS, NPS, San Diego Zoo, Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife, MassAudubon, the Town of Harwich, and most recently with the National Audubon Society, providing scientific expertise toward its renewable energy engagement. Shilo served as a Climate Science Fellow for the USGS Southeast Climate Adaptation Center and as a Research Assistant for the USGS Cooperative Research Unit, where she led a project investigating the implications of management decisions for American Oystercatcher populations, in partnership with National Park Service. 

Speakers: 

• Nick Morgan (Director of Mitigation Solutions, The Conservation Fund)
  • Nick Morgan focuses on developing and implementing compensatory mitigation projects and programs to offset impacts from infrastructure development across the United States. This includes mitigation for impacts to threatened and endangered species, historic and cultural resources, state and federal lands, and migratory birds. A popular mitigation fund that Nick’s team manages is the Range-wide Indiana Bat and Northern Long-eared Bat In-Lieu Fee Program, which was established in 2017.

View Nick’s Presentation 

• Josiah Maine (Senior Environmental Scientist, Burns & McDonnell)
  • Josiah is a wildlife biologist at Burns & McDonnell. He has a broad background in avian and bat biology, ecological research, endangered species, and environmental permitting. Josiah also serves as the land manager for the Chariton Hills Conservation bank, where he applies ecological concepts to maintain and improve habitat for threatened and endangered bats.

View Josiah’s Presentation 

• Wayne Walker (Principal, Common Ground Capital, LLC.
  • Wayne has had extensive and successful careers in four important sectors of the US economy in the last thirty years:  semiconductors, wind energy, electric utility and private sector, market-based ecosystem service markets.  Wayne started Common Ground Capital, LLC in 2012 after following and learning about the for-profit species and wetland mitigation industry for many years.  Wayne and his partners are strong proponents that markets and private sector capital must ultimately lead in the goal to save and restore biodiversity.  Common Ground Capital (“CGC”) and its partners have provided best in class programmatic, range-wide species mitigation and permits for many large linear infrastructure, renewable energy and oil & gas projects in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, and New Mexico for two species, the American Burying Beetle (“ABB”) and the Lesser Prairie Chicken (“LPC”).

• Stephanie Tom Coupe (Senior Director, Impact-Directed Environmental Accounts, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation)
  • Stephanie Tom Coupe is Senior Director of NFWF’s IDEA department, which receives, manages, and disburses funds designated for the benefit of specific natural resources that arise from legal and regulatory proceedings. Prior to joining NFWF, Stephanie was a deputy director for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, where she also served as a lawyer within the Office of General Counsel and graduated from the fish and game warden academy. Stephanie also worked in the Washington, DC Office of the California Governor on natural resources issues. Stephanie received her B.A. from the University of California at Davis and her J.D. from the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law.

View Stephanie’s Presentation