Conservation Credit Workshop to Protect Sagebrush Habitat

The Sagebrush Ecosystem Program is proud to host its Conservation Credit System (CCS) Proponents Workshop, taking place on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at the Elko Convention Center. This event brings together landowners, mitigation bankers, industry professionals, and ecosystem partners to explore the pivotal role the CCS plays in balancing Nevada’s economic growth with long-term conservation of its sagebrush landscapes.

Workshop Details:
WHEN: Tuesday, May 20, 2025

TIME: 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Elko Convention Center (Turquoise and Gold Rooms)

ADDRESS: 700 Moren Way, Elko, NV, 8980

NOTE: This event is designed specifically for CCS project proponents and is not open to verifiers.

What is the Conservation Credit System?
The Conservation Credit System, administered by the Sagebrush Ecosystem Technical Team (SETT), is a solution that ensures any impacts from man-made disturbances – such as development, infrastructure, or energy projects, are fully offset by verified habitat restoration and protection efforts elsewhere.

Through a system of “debits” and “credits”, the CCS tracks:
-Debits: The loss or degradation of habitat due to human activity
-Credits: Measurable improvements and protections made to sage-grouse habitat through conservation efforts.

These credits and debits are exchanged through voluntary market transactions, allowing those who impact habitat to offset their footprint by investing in long-term conservation. This approach ensures net benefits for the sage-grouse, while maintaining the flexibility and certainty Nevada’s economy and landowners need to thrive.

The CCS is designed to produce tangible, on-the-ground conservation outcomes. It encourages:
-Avoidance and minimization of impacts to key sage-grouse ecosystems.
-Incentives for landowners, both public and private, to engage in restoration, protection, and risk reduction on their land.
-Regulatory certainty for project developers – whether or not the greater sage-grouse is listed under the Endangered Species Act.

Who Is This For?
The CCS is intended for:
-Private landowners whose property includes sage-grouse habitat.
-Public land managers balancing conservation with land use.
-Companies and developers planning to build, expand, or extract resources in areas that intersect with sagebrush habitat.
-Mitigation bankers, conservation organizations, and others interested in participating in Nevada’s restoration economy.

This one-day workshop is designed specifically for CCS project proponents—those who generate (credit) or use (debit) conservation credits—and will provide a platform for discussion, feedback, and networking.
The Sagebrush Ecosystem Program, a collaborative initiative under the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, is dedicated to protecting and enhancing sagebrush ecosystems—home to species such as the greater sage-grouse and countless others. Through innovative, market-based tools like the CCS, the Program empowers public and private partners to create measurable conservation outcomes on the ground while balancing land use and development.

For more information about this listing or the State of Nevada Sagebrush Ecosystem Program, please visit https://sagebrusheco.nv.gov/ or contact Kathleen Steele, Program Manager at ksteele@sagebrusheco.nv.gov or call (775) 687-2000.