Ecosystem credits
The natural resources on your property provide a variety of ecosystem services—the natural processes that contribute to the health of your region’s environment and quality of life. These services include: cleaning the air, filtering drinking water, creating habitat for plants and animals, and supplying food and fiber. Ecosystem credits represent verifiable improvements in the provision of ecosystem services.
Property owners who implement conservation actions that enhance ecosystem services may generate credit supply. For example, by installing a suite of practices that include the planting of riparian buffers, landowners can reduce the amount of nutrients flowing into streams and generate nutrient credits. These credits can then be sold to buyers in a water quality market.
Buyers provide the established need and money that drives markets. Water quality markets will be driven by the demand for nitrogen and other reductions across the Chesapeake region. The businesses, foundations, and other organizations demanding these reductions do so to comply with regulations like the Clean Water Act, to prepare for future regulations, or for strictly voluntary reasons.
Learn more about Ecosystem credits:
