9th Annual Private Lands Summit

TAMING THE WILD WEST OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

Article by Amanda Gobeli and Chad Timmons Photos by David Smith

Carbon credits. Water markets. Energy markets. Mitigation banking. These concepts are changing the face of land ownership in Texas. They represent exciting opportunities for landowners, offering new options for generating income as well as new avenues for stewardship of open spaces and natural resources, But they also represent uncharted territory and, for many, frightening uncertainty. This year’s 9th Annual Private Lands Summit, titled “Today’s Wild West of Ecosystem Services,” gathered experts of a variety of backgrounds, industries, and perspectives to weigh in on these issues and “tame” this wild west.

The morning began with speakers who laid the groundwork for the questions that would follow. TWA CEO Justin Dreibelbis kicked off the event with a brief introduction, setting the tone and intention

of the summit. Then Dr. Jeff Goodwin of Texas A&M University explained the science needed to appreciate how nitrogen, carbon and water cycles contribute to healthy soils. In addition to their role in food and fiber production, soils are the second largest carbon sink in the world after oceans.

With that understanding in mind, Dr. Roel Lopez, director of Texas A&M University’s Natural Resources Institute, provided a definition of ecosystem services: the contributions of ecosystem structure and function which benefit humans and which nature provides for free. These ecosystem services save humans enormous amounts of money—more than $600 per acre in Texas by his estimations.

Attendees then heard from Tamara Wood of Conservation Equity Partners, who explained the concept of mitigation banking—a way to offset adverse impacts of new developments and construction projects by restoring or enhancing habitat in a similar, adjacent ecosystem, resulting in no net loss to the environment.

With the foundation laid, it was time to dig into the specifics with panels of speakers. The first of these focused on the perspective of the corporate world regarding new markets and increasing environmental awareness among consumers. The first panel, moderated by Troy Madrigal of Ironwood Resource Advisors LLC, included Mark Fisher of TxDOT, Tim Hardman of Fulton Market Group (which handles supply chain management for McDonald’s), Colby Winzer of Wells Fargo (real estate), and Jim Lanier of HEB.

This diverse panel, representing industries which may seem to have little in common, described shared experiences of evolving business practices in response to consumer demands and identifying ways of operating that allow for fulfillment of corporate or agency obligations while supporting good stewardship of natural resources.

After lunch, we jumped back in with a panel focused on emerging carbon and water markets, moderated by Chad Ellis of Texas Agricultural Land Trust (TALT). He was joined by Mike Komp of BRDG AI, Mitch Hagney of Grassroots Carbon, and Chris Adams of Vision Forestry, who shared their perspectives on merging industry and land stewardship for mutual benefit. Their work illustrates how, through these new markets, grasslands, forests, wetlands, and other healthy habitats are not at odds with business; rather they are curated, conserved, and valued in accordance with the ecosystem services they provide.

The last panel of the day, appropriately titled “Landowners Who are All In,” featured four speakers who have taken the plunge and are navigating these new markets on their own properties. We heard from Anson Howard, attorney with Uhl Fitzsimons, PLLC and head of the River Ranch, Terry Anderson of Conservation Equity Partners, Blake Murden of the Shield Land Stewardship Group, and Loy Sneary of Sneary & Associates.

They shared the work they’re doing to protect carbon stores and water resources through regenerative grazing and stream bank conservation, their efforts to safeguard native Texas wildlife species, and their knowledge of conservation easements and other options for landowners. Panelists gave candid commentary which included not only the benefits of these practices, but also the pitfalls and considerations that landowners should take into account before committing.

Near the end of the day, Kyle Bass of Conservation Equity Management offered an alternative perspective urging caution when jumping into new markets and attempting to merge conservation with the financial world.

Lastly, the significance of the conversation was brought into full focus by Shane Mahoney, famed orator as well as president and CEO of Conservation Visions. He acknowledged the daunting challenges facing our wild things and wild places but praised the good work of Texas landowners, researchers, and all stewards of our natural resources. Mahoney emphasized how the diverse speakers assembled at the Private Lands Summit—all of whom have different interests and motivations, and yet are committed to finding mutually beneficial solutions—represent the path forward for conservation.

“What the planet has to have, what wildlife has to have...is some plan that is sustainable, that can go forward, that is realistic, that can be repeated, that can be modeled in one place, shown in one place and picked up in another, that can truly become a global force,” he emphasized to attendees.

What we learned at the 9th Annual Private Lands Summit is that, despite all the unknowns surrounding ecosystem services and emerging markets, there are some things we can say with certainty.

We can be confident in the value of our healthy soils, clean water, and other services provided by functioning ecosystems.

We know there are people from a wide range of backgrounds—the corporate world, research, land ownership, and more—who recognize that value and are acting accordingly.

And we are certain that no one is better prepared to tackle the “Wild West of Ecosystem Services” than Texans.

Editor’s Note: a video of the session by Shane Mahoney is available at https://www.instagram.com/tv/ CgAmx6lo4QQ/?hl=en