In Spring 2003, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service adopted 'The Final Guidance for the Establishment, Use and Operation of Habitat Conservation Banks Under Section 7 or 10 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended'. This memorandum creates guidance to assist Service personnel in evaluating proposals to establish Conservation Banks. Habitat conservation banking transfers the concept of wetland mitigation banking to endangered and threatened species conservation with a few important differences.