Environmental Benefits and Ecosystem Services and Needed Links for Stacking Credits

This presentation was given during the Payment for Ecosystem Services session of the 'New Currency for Conservation' conference in Washington, DC. The session aimed to highlight the importance of defining the service, buyers and establishing a system for verification; identify existing tools and databases that can be used to assist in market development; explore markets as an institution that can deal with the exchange mechanisms that govern allocation of traditionally unpriced goods and services; identify institutional barriers that have prevented markets from developing so far, current conditions and technical innovations that make this an opportune time, and needs from institutions to effectively market ecosystem services.