Conservation & Sustainability Flashcards

Under the U.S. mitigation rule, which type of compensatory mitigation is given the HIGHEST preference?

Answer: Mitigation bank credits

Mitigation banks are preferred because credits are drawn from already-restored or protected sites, providing greater certainty of ecological success before impacts occur.

Which wetland type stores the greatest amount of carbon per unit area globally?

Answer: Peatlands (bogs and fens)

Peatlands accumulate organic matter over millennia and hold roughly 30% of global soil carbon despite covering only about 3% of land area.

The concept of 'functional lift' in wetland restoration refers to:

Answer: The improvement in ecological functions achieved by a restoration project compared to the degraded baseline condition

Functional lift measures the net gain in wetland functions resulting from a restoration action relative to the pre-project degraded condition.

Which federal agency co-administers the Section 404 permit program alongside the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers?

Answer: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The EPA shares authority with the Corps under Section 404, including the power to veto permits under Section 404(c) if a project would cause unacceptable adverse effects.

Which conservation tool allows a landowner to voluntarily restrict development on their wetland property while retaining ownership?

Answer: Conservation easement

A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust or government agency that permanently limits uses of the land to protect its conservation values.

Tidal wetlands (salt marshes and mangroves) are especially targeted for 'blue carbon' conservation because they:

Answer: Sequester and store carbon in soils at rates far exceeding most terrestrial ecosystems

Tidal wetlands sequester carbon in anaerobic soils at very high rates and store it for centuries, making their protection a high-value climate mitigation strategy.

What does the term 'watershed approach' mean in the context of wetland mitigation?

Answer: Siting compensatory mitigation where it provides the greatest ecological benefit within the affected watershed, rather than at the impact site

A watershed approach evaluates where mitigation will best address the resource needs and priorities of the entire watershed, often resulting in off-site mitigation that delivers greater ecological benefit.