Our Toolbox
EcoVest actively works with private landowners, developers, corporations, and banks with a high volume of REO and non-performing real estate loans to identify potential sustainable value elements via a thorough qualification process. We leverage a number of tools to create unique real estate offerings and risk/return profiles for our investors.
Our toolbox includes:
- Conservation Easements. A conservation easement is a private action taken on a private land which provides for the permanent preservation of the land by restricting development, commercial and industrial uses, and certain other activities on a property. This federal incentive program has been in existence for more than 20 years. By following a detailed series of rules, owners of appropriate land who permanently preserve it with a proper conservation easement can take advantage of economic incentives written into the federal tax code that roughly reflect the value of the rights that are extinguished, such as development rights.
- Stream & Wetlands Mitigation. Mitigation banking is the restoration, creation, enhancement or preservation of a wetland, stream, or habitat conservation area that is intended to offset expected adverse impacts to similar nearby ecosystems. Governed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, mitigation credits are issued to compensate an owner for the costs of restoring and preserving streams and wetlands. These credits may be sold to others who have been required to obtain credits that offset against planned environmental degradation.
- Conservation Banking. Similar to mitigation banking, a conservation banking project is granted credits for the preservation of endangered habitats and/or species. Credits are then sold to industries that are required to purchase them as a condition of receiving development permits.
- Carbon Sequestration & Credits. While there is a limited market for green house reduction offset credits (also known as “carbon credits”) in the US today, major markets are in fact emerging, including a robust, compliance-based market in California and an ongoing voluntary market driven by companies committed to “going green”. Where opportunities exist within the context of EcoVest Capital projects to reduce or sequester greenhouse gas emissions and create offsets, we will generally do so, further enhancing the environmental and economic value of those projects.One of our primary opportunities for developing carbon credits arises from the preservation of forested land that is otherwise in the path of development. Growing forests represent one of the most important carbon “sinks” on the planet. Trees “sequester” carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and “store” it as woody biomass. Carbon credits are currently available to be generated from preserving this carbon in the form of standing forests.
- Sustainable Natural Resource Harvesting. Many properties offer natural resources, such as timber or water, which can be sustainably managed and utilized. We look at the natural resources of our properties and structure management programs for their use, where appropriate. These uses can, in some cases, include mineral or oil and gas drilling rights.
- Agricultural Preservation. Preservation of agricultural lands and sustainable farming practices are encouraged through a number of federally supported incentive programs.
- Residual Development. Many projects that include conservation easements can reserve the right to develop a portion of the property. This can take the form of reserved home sites, sites for renewable energy development, mineral extraction or whole parcels of land that are set aside for development.
- Land Value Appreciation. While the use of some techniques such as conservation easements may reduce the economic value of the preserved land, significant land value appreciation can be realized in conjunction with several development options.