What is a conservation bank?

   A conservation bank is privately or publicly owned land managed for its natural resource values. For example, in order to satisfy the legal requirement for mitigation of environmental impacts from a development, a landowner can buy credits from a conservation bank, or in the case of wetlands, a mitigation bank. Conservation banking legally links the owner of the bank and resource agencies, such as the Department of Fish and Game or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.