2. WHAT WE DO: work at the
nexus of environmental
sustainability and economic
development throughout the
Great Lakes.
ABOUT DELTA INSTITUTE
HOW WE DO IT:
โข Develop innovative programs and market-driven
solutions
โข Build sustainable markets
โข Convene diverse stakeholders
โข Inform better policy
@DeltaGreatLakes
Learn more at delta-institute.org
3. THE ORIGIN STORY
โข In 2008, Grand Victoria Foundation
(GVF) brings together conservation
leaders
โข In 2009, GVF revises its grant guidelines
based on VLI member priorities
โข VLI includes land trusts, other
nonprofits, government
representatives, and funders
โข Summits are held regularly and working
groups continue to meet and advance
conservation activities
โข Working Groups โ 1. Policy, 2.
Coordination, & 3. Funding http://www.grandvictoriafdn.org/how-we-work/how-can-we-overcome-fragmentation-
and-unite-behind-a-big-picture-vision
4. PROTECTED LAND IN ILLINOIS
Conserved Land in IL: 1,028,054 acres
Privately Held Land: 74, 216 acres
Source: PSCC I-View Web Platform
Holding Acres
Conservation Easement 23090
Fee Simple 50824
Life Estate 90
Managed 213
5. THE COSTS OF STEWARDSHIP
We used PSCC data and the ISNAV
values to roughly estimate that the
stewardship cost associated with
these acres is $8-$11 million
annually.
https://www.aldoleopold.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/McKenna-blog-2-540x360.jpg
http://sustainability.fnal.gov/images/land-stewardship/07-0414-
06D_md.jpg
At a growth rate of 1,500
acres annually in 25 years,
this would grow to >$16
million
6. ILLINOIS LAND ACQUISITION
NAAF
Year Acres Dollars
2013 43.3 $43,000
2011 39.4 $140,000
2010 302.5 $454,500
2009 814.3 $4,115,058
2008 516.8 $5,302,699
2007 692.6 $3,315,803
2006 3,306.10 $13,560,981
2005 430.4 $1,230,174
2004 548 $937,188
2003 1,266.00 $2,883,504
2002 3,752.10 $5,207,448
2001 1,539.90 $3,838,584
2000 485.8 $1,195,308
1999 1,393.10 $4,418,801
1998 257.2 $743,038
Total 15,387.50 $47,386,090
Open Lands Trust
Year Acres Dollars
2013 715.4 $2,947,296
2012 547.9 $2,884,500
2007 0 $1,000,000
2006 259 $1,268,500
2005 217.5 $744,763
2004 10 $2,014,680
2003 7,217.10 $31,667,692
2002 6,841.30 $32,754,321
2001 18,112.00 $40,780,096
2000 7,504.60 $21,721,455
1999 1,662.00 $7,000,000
1998 131.5 $60,006
Total 43,218.20 $144,843,310
OSLAD
Year Acres Dollars
2012 0 $623,350
2011 5.3 $168,500
2010 215.7 $4,996,400
2009 180 $3,838,100
2008 0 $5,841,050
2007 75.2 $7,560,666
2006 113.8 $9,308,400
2005 0 $1,455,500
2004 40 $2,681,300
2003 5.2 $1,821,800
2002 11.3 $1,570,450
2001 2.3 $5,536,190
2000 136.2 $5,967,800
1999 29.9 $4,267,200
1998 1.9 $3,350,600
Total 816.7 $58,987,306
All graphs from conservation almanac.org "Since 1998, NAAF provided $47.4 million in
funding to acquire 15,321 acres of high quality natural habitat. Between 2010 and 2014,
less than $1 million total has been spent on land acquisition. โ
7. HOW DO WE PROVIDE
SUSTAINABLE FUNDING TO
MAINTAIN HIGH QUALITY
ECOSYSTEMS ON
PROTECTED LANDS?
9. OUR โHYPOTHESISโ:
The traditional โbuy and flipโ or โacquire, restore, transferโ
models are currently not sustainable. We need a new
model for long term management of high value
ecosystems.
10. OUR PROCESS
1. Assess existing Illinois revenue structures and budget needs,
both short-term and long-term, for conservation.
2. Identify the elements and benefits of successful stewardship
financing models.
3. Assess barriers to implementation of these models.
4. Design a sustainable financing mechanism.
5. Identify necessary infrastructure for implementing the
proposed framework.
11. KEY BARRIERS IDENTIFIED
โข Reliable funding with longer term contracts
โข Holistic funding that covers acquisition, restoration, stewardship, and
administration
โข Available funding for all conservation organizations
โข Diverse funding that can comply with match requirements
โข Lessening of restrictions to prevent mission drift
โข Greater capacity in the form of staff, equipment and expertise
โข More collaboration among smaller organization to tap into larger
opportunities.
12. KEY BARRIERS IDENTIFIED
โข Reliable funding with longer term contracts
โข Holistic funding that covers acquisition, restoration, stewardship, and
administration
โข Available funding for all conservation organizations
โข Diverse funding that can comply with match requirements
โข Lessening of restrictions to prevent mission drift
โข Greater capacity in the form of staff, equipment and expertise
โข More collaboration among smaller organization to tap into larger
opportunities.
INCREASE FUNDING AND CAPACITY
13. A SCAN OF MECHANISMS
โ Carbon Income Investments
Program
โ Carbon Offsets
โ Collective Impact Model
โ Conservation Easement
โ Cost Share Payments
โ Deposit Refund Scheme
โ Direct Budget Allocations
โ Ecosystem Service Fees/Payment
for Ecosystem Services
โ Endowed Funds
โ Green Bond Financing
โ Green Commodities Price Premiums
from Working Lands
โ Impact Investing
โ Insurance Payments
โ Natural Capital Levy
โ Opt-In Donations
โ Program Related Investments
โ Real Estate Transfer Tax
โ Sales Tax/Excise Tax
โ Settlement Funding
โ Mitigation Funding
โ Clean Water State Revolving
Fund
โ Substitute Fund
โ Tourism/User Fees
โ Transfer of Development
Rights
14. CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION
โข Resource and Financial Flow
โข Involved Parties
โข Strengths/Weaknesses
โข Does it create a sustainable revenue stream or address
a specific barrier addressed in the project?
โข Applicability to Illinois and for Stewardship
15. CASE STUDIES
1. CA Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund
2. Iroquois Valley Farms Working Lands
Model
3. MI Natural Resources Trust Fund
4. โFrom Forests to Faucetsโ
Partnerships
5. Sierra Nevada Watershed
Improvement Program
6. Freshwater Trust Medford Oregon
Temperature Trading
17. NARROWING IN DURING ROUND 2 EVALUATION
Mechanism Barrier Addressed
Ballot Measure Stewardship
Fund
Sustainable Funding
Private or Foundation
Developed Stewardship Fund
Sustainable Funding, Match Requirements
Land Aggregation for
Ecosystem Services or Markets
Scale needed to tap into markets,
Coordination, Match Requirements
Expanding use of State SRF Sustainable Funding
Business to Business Service
Network
Capacity development. Quick Access, Match
Requirements, Coordination
Working Lands Models Sustainable Funding, Quick Access
The Stewardship Clearing
House
Quick Access
A Unified Conservation Bank Capacity development, Quick Access
18. PARAMETERS FOR EVALUATION
โข Scale of Mechanism
โข Addressing what need
โข Potential Lead and other Orgs Impacted
โข Implementation Needs
โข Constraints and Barriers
โข Policy Implications
โข Key Unknowns
โข Administrative burden
โข Eligibility Requirements
โข Timeline for Implementation
20. APPROACH 1: REGIONAL STEWARDSHIP PARTNERSHIPS
Why: Increasing and Optimizing Capacity
How: Formalize the informal stewardship
networks
โข Begin with 5 potential regions based on
IDNR regions
โข 1 Stewardship Coordinator each to
facilitate and provide expertise
โข Built on a collective impact model
22. APPROACH 1: REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
Potential Roadblocks
โข Initial scaling of program
โข Long-term buy-in
โข Concern about value of organizations time
โข Regional constraints
The Benefits
โข Builds upon existing networks and relationships
โข Identifies new partnership opportunities and resource optimization
โข Paid technical expertise and support
23. APPROACH 2: A NONPROFIT AGRICULTURAL WORKING LANDS
COOPERATIVE
Why: The need for a sustainable funding source
How: Create a working lands โendowmentโ
โข investment cooperative that invests in sustainable farmland to create
returns and grow the pot over time.
โข Aggregates donated land and dollars from land trusts and attracts outside
donations/dollars
โข Entity manages all leasing, management techniques, legal agreements
โข Provide the needed support for farmers to develop sustainable practices
โข By setting up this specific entity we can leverage additional funding through
PRIโs, mission aligned investments, and foundation dollars improving the
bottom line for Land Trusts
24. INITIAL FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS
Stewardship Scenario
Low Annual Cost per
Acre
High Annual
Cost per Acre
FarmlandScenario
100% Good
Productivity
Acres Needed in
Cooperative
27,268 35,704
Cost to
Purchase Acres
$212,688,320 $278,488,769
100% Fair
Productivity
Acres Needed in
Cooperative
54,535 71,407
Cost to
Purchase Acres
$261,770,240 $342,755,408
25. APPROACH 2: AN AGRICULTURAL WORKING LANDS
COOPERATIVE (WE THINK)
Potential Roadblocks
โข Equitable distribution of generated income
โข LT need to be able to use land as collateral still
โข Farmer apprehensions
โข Agricultural market shifts
โข BMP identification
โข Slow early growth
The Benefits
โข Align mission with Investments
โข Increasing the overall acres protected
โข Works across sizes
27. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND NEXT STEPS
1. Further Understanding Land Trust Revenue Structures and Gaps
2. Creating Tools to better use existing revenue
3. Creating Policy Action Plans
4. Piloting the Dual Approach Framework