Forest Mitigation Banks Program

Property owners and developers planning to develop land may be required to provide mitigation for forest loss or afforestation. The first priority for providing mitigation for forest clearing is on-site, second, off-site replanting, and lastly, pay a fee-in-lieu to the county.
    
Off-site mitigation banks may be set up by private landowners and sell reforestation “credits” for profit to other landowners and developers who have reforestation or afforestation mitigation requirements as a result of development projects. The reforestation bank owner plants native trees on their property, posts a security to ensure survival, and places the planted area under a perpetual protective agreement, such as a conservation easement. In some instances, the bank owner can agree to preserve existing forested areas that will satisfy portions of the off-site planting requirements for developers.

For specific questions related to each mitigation bank, please contact the individual bank using the Off-site Reforestation Bank Contact List below.