Resources

	Resources The following websites and publications provide a wealth of information on environmental markets and ecosystem services. USDA Activities OEM Presentations and Publications Federal Activities External Resources

	USDA Activities The Office of Environmental Markets (OEM) furthers its mission in partnership with other USDA agencies and offices.
	The Climate Change Program Office functions as the Department-wide coordinator of climate change issues related to agriculture and forestry. The office is developing technical guidelines and science-based methods for estimating the greenhouse gas and carbon sequestration impacts of agricultural practices at the farm scale.

	Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) is a voluntary program intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and techniques. CIG awards competitive grants to non-Federal governmental or non-governmental organizations, Tribes, or individuals.

	The Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) is a multi-agency effort to quantify the environmental effects of conservation practices and programs and develop the science base for managing the agricultural landscape for environmental quality.

	NRCS Landscape Conservation Initiatives address natural resource priorities on a landscape scale. Conservation solutions benefit both landowners and the environment, provide wildlife habitat, and improve agricultural production.

	Within the Forest Service's Cooperative Forestry Programs, ecosystem services specialists work to advance opportunities for private forest landowners throughout the country to receive payments for ecosystem services.

	The Forests, Water and People Analysis, a publication of the Forest Service Northeastern Area, uses maps to illustrate how forests protect surface drinking water quality in 540 watersheds in the Northeast and Midwest. The upcoming Forest Service Forest-to-Faucet report expands this analysis to include the entire country.

	The Economic Research Service (ERS) provides economic research and analysis on natural resources and environment issues, including ecosystem services and environmental markets. In 2008 ERS published The Use of Markets To Increase Private Investment in Environmental Stewardship.

	The National Institute of Food and Agriculture Ecosystem Program awards grants and pursues research to increase the scientific and public understanding that human well-being is inextricably linked to the sustainable use and management of ecosystems.

	The National Organic Program (NOP) develops, implements, and administers national production, handling, and labeling standards for organic agriculture.

	The Farm Service Agency administers the Conservation Reserve Program, through which agricultural landowners can volunteer to receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource conserving covers on eligible farmland.

	OEM Presentations and Publications Developing Markets for Ecosystem Services–Presentation at the Michigan Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society’s 2011 Agriculture and Natural Resources Week Seminar Ecosystem Services and Environmental Markets in the Chesapeake Bay – Presentation at the 2011 Green Infrastructure Conference Making Markets Work for Conservation– Presentation at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the National Association of Conservation Districts Environmental Markets: Developing Technical Guidelines– Presentation at the 2010 Mid-Atlantic Water Meeting of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture From Forest to Faucet: Drinking Water as an Ecosystem Service – Presentation at the 2010 Conference of A Community on Ecosystem Services

	Federal Activities Federal Exchanges on Ecosystem Services Chesapeake Bay Executive Order U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Water Quality Trading Toolkit U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species Program: For Landowners – Conservation Banking EPA Wetland Mitigation Banking Factsheet U.S. Army Corps of Engineers RIBITS (Regulatory In lieu fee and Bank Information Tracking System) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Catch Share Policy U.S. Geological Survey Ecosystems Research

	External Resources The World Resources Institute (WRI) is developing a common platform to support water quality trading for agricultural participants in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Some states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed have already developed websites for their nutrient trading programs: Maryland Nutrient Trading Program Pennsylvania NutrientNet, Online Market Trading Place Virginia Nutrient Credit Exchange Program West Virginia Potomac Water Quality Bank and Trade Program EcoAgriculture Partners released a report titled Innovations in Watershed-Based Conservation in the United States: Payments for Watershed Services for Agricultural and Forest Landowners with funding and support from OEM and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities. The report surveys payments for watershed services (PWS) schemes to understand their current role in the U.S. and future potential for increasing cost-effective watershed protection on private lands. A report titled Measuring Up: Synchronizing Biodiversity Measurement Systems for Markets and Other Incentive Programs was produced by the Willamette Partnership with funding and support from OEM. The report analyzes 25 existing biodiversity measurement systems to identify the elements necessary for a good system. It presents a standard process for developing measurement systems and offers options for improving the performance of biodiversity markets and conservation programs. Resources for the Future published a survey describing existing federal policies that permit or promote ecosystem services analysis, management, investments, and markets: Ecosystem Services: Quantification, Policy Applications, and Current Federal Capabilities The Ecosystem Marketplace is a source of news, data, and analytics on markets and payments for ecosystem services. Recent reports include: State of Watershed Payments (2010) State of Voluntary Carbon Markets (2010) State of Biodiversity Markets (2010) OEM and other federal agencies are coming together with a community of scientists, conservationists, and private sector leaders to share experiences and expertise related to environmental markets and ecosystem services. Collaborative efforts include A Community on Ecosystem Services and the National Ecosystem Services Partnership.

	Last Modified: 06/14/2011


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