Cooperative Agreement 58011125009

EACH YEAR, APPROXIMATELY $3 BILLION IS SPENT ON CREDITS FROM MITIGATION OR CONSERVATION BANKS, IN-LIEU FEE PROGRAM, OR COMPLETION OF PERMITTEE-RESPONSIBLE MITIGATION PROJECTS IN THE U.S. IN 2025, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETS PROPOSES TO PARTNER WITH OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES AND THE CONSERVATION FUND TO DELIVER AN ADVANCED TRAINING COURSE FOR PROJECT SPONSORS (CREDIT DEVELOPERS AND SELLERS), USERS (CREDIT BUYERS), STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCY STAFF (PERMIT WRITERS AND FIELD SUPPORT) AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS TO PROVIDE A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF COMPENSATORY MITIGATION ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDS, IN-LIEU FEE PROGRAMS, AND OTHER MARKET-BASED CONSERVATION SYSTEMS AND CONCEPTS. THE COST OF DELIVERING THE TRAINING IS $30,000. THE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETS WILL PROVIDE $10,000 TOWARD THE OVERALL COST AND PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTENT DETERMINATION AND DELIVERY. DELIVERABLES UNDER THIS AWARD INCLUDE A RAINING THAT WILL INCLUDE EIGHT ON-LINE SESSIONS, PRESENTED BY A COMBINATION OF AGENCY STAFF, BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES, AND LANDOWNERS, WHERE UP TO 300 PARTICIPANTS ARE ANTICIPATED. THE TRAINING WILL PROVIDE THOROUGH GROUNDING IN THE RELEVANT POLICIES GUIDING THE REVIEW, ESTABLISHMENT, AND OPERATION OF COMPENSATORY MITIGATION PROGRAMS; ENABLE PARTICIPANTS TO IDENTIFY THE NEED FOR AND OPPORTUNITIES ASSOCIATED WITH COMPENSATORY MITIGATION PROGRAMS INCLUDING ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF THIRD-PARTY COMPENSATORY OFFSETS FROM BOTH A BANKERS' AND USERS' PERSPECTIVE; PROVIDE PRACTITIONERS AND REVIEWERS EXPERTISE ON HOW COMPENSATORY MITIGATION PROGRAMS ARE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY REVIEWED AND OVERSEEN IN BOTH THEIR ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION; FACILITATE THE PARTICIPATION OF FARMERS, RANCHERS, AND FOREST LANDOWNERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL MARKET ACTIVITIES, IN DIRECT SUPPORT OF THE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETS' PURPOSE.