RELATIONSHIP TO INCENTIVES AND REGULATIONS?
Can combine certification with an easement, HCP or cost-share program.
Must meet minimum state regulations to be certified, but landowners not exempt from ESA. Safe harbor agreements help to mitigate.
Notes:
Land owners must meet or exceed all governmental regulations when seeking to become certified. However, because conservation easement, HCP, cost-share and certification programs produce overlapping benefits, land owners may wish to combine programs with one another. This should produce greater combined benefits for the land owner -- especially if the costs are not too large. Land owners should also investigate safe harbor agreements available to them if they engage in selected conservation programs.