Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Revive Ecosystems, LLC different?
At Revive Ecosystems, LLC, we bring decades of specialized experience in ecosystem markets and regulatory strategy across Florida and the Southeast. Our team combines technical expertise with economic forecasts with a commitment to long-term environmental success, serving as the main liaison between finance and biology.
What is a wetland mitigation bank?
A mitigation bank is a site that has been restored, established, enhanced, or preserved to compensate for unavoidable impacts to wetlands, streams, or other aquatic resources that occur as a result of development or infrastructure projects. Mitigation banks are created in advance of impacts and are approved by regulatory agencies.
Why are wetlands so important to Florida’s ecosystem?
Wetlands are vital to Florida’s water quality, flood protection, wildlife, and climate resilience. They act as natural filters that remove pollutants, store floodwater during storms, provide critical habitat for hundreds of species, and recharge groundwater. Wetlands also store carbon, helping fight climate change. However, Florida has lost over half of its historic wetlands, making their protection and restoration more important than ever.
What new laws in Florida relate to wetland and conservation banking?
Effective July 1, 2025, Senate Bill 492 and House Bill 1175 standardize the credit–release schedule (30/30/20/20%), allow out-of-service-area credit use with proximity multipliers, and mandate annual credit availability reports to DEP/WMD starting July 1, 2026.
What is wetland restoration vs. endangered species restoration?
Wetland restoration restores hydrology, soil, and vegetation to recreate aquatic ecosystems. Endangered species restoration focuses on habitat enhancements and spatial needs for specific species (e.g., panther, sand skink, scrub-jay).
Can local government restrictions on credit use in MSAs?
Florida law (§ 373.4136) bases mitigation bank service areas on ecological and hydrological factors, not political jurisdictions. Projects within a bank’s service area have the right to use its credits regardless of county or city lines.
Local governments cannot impose conditions that conflict with or exceed state mitigation banking regulations. Thus, local ordinances cannot restrict mitigation credit use beyond state law.
What are the new multipliers for out-of-area mitigation in Senate Bill 492?
1.0 Multiplier: For in-kind credits within the same regional watershed or overlapping service areas.
1.2 Multiplier: For in-kind or out-of-service-area credits in an adjacent regional watershed.
Additional 0.25 Multiplier: For each additional regional watershed crossed beyond the adjacent watershed.
Additional 0.50 Multiplier: For out-of-kind mitigation (e.g., restoring a different wetland type than impacted).
I own land. Can I create a mitigation bank?
Yes. If your land qualifies ecologically, we help landowners design, permit, and sell mitigation credits, generating long-term income while conserving natural systems.
Is it difficult to develop a mitigation bank?
It is important to have a highly specialized and knowledgeable team to permit a wetland bank. Mitigation and conservation banks take 3-5 years at a minimum before a credit can be sold. Mitigation banks must go through a rigorous permitting process with multiple state and federal agencies involved for approval. However, our team helps streamline this process by working in tandem with your economic goals.
What does “regional significance” mean in mitigation bank permitting?
“Regional significance” refers to how a mitigation bank contributes to broader ecological goals, like restoring historically present ecosystems region-wide (Chapter 373.4135, F.S.), supporting preservation of upland and wetland systems beyond the immediate area.
How much does it cost to restore an acre of wetlands in Florida?
Restoration costs vary widely, typically between $20,000 $100,000 per acre, depending on factors like site complexity, habitat type, and long-term maintenance needs.
What are financial assurances, and why are they required? What is long-term management in a mitigation bank?
Financial assurances like performance bonds ensure funds are available for restoration, monitoring, and long-term management. They are legally required before a credit release. Long-term management includes ongoing activities such as monitoring, invasive species control, hydrologic maintenance, and habitat restoration that continue well after bank establishment, funded via endowments or bonds.
What is a conservation easement, and what does “in perpetuity” really mean?
A conservation easement is a legal restriction placed on land that limits development to preserve its ecological value. “In perpetuity” means it lasts forever, regardless of ownership changes, ensuring long-term habitat protection.
What is a mitigation credit?
A mitigation credit is a unit of ecological value generated by a mitigation bank through the restoration, enhancement, creation, or preservation of wetlands, streams, or other aquatic resources. These credits are sold to offset unavoidable environmental impacts authorized by regulatory permits. A mitigation credit represents a measurable amount of ecological improvement, such as one acre of restored wetland or a functional uplift in habitat quality that can be used to compensate for similar losses caused by a development project.
What are the different types of freshwater and estuarine credits in Florida?
Credits are based on habitat type and include:
Freshwater Wetlands: herbaceous, forested, wetland prairie
Estuarine/Saltwater: mangrove, tidal marsh, seagrass, and open-water habitats, each quantified per restored acre.
Who buys wetland mitigation credits?
Anyone disturbing wetlands, such as builders, public agencies, or utility companies, will need to compensate for unavoidable wetland impacts or endangered species habitat. This is typically required during the environmental permitting process through Florida’s ERP program and/or the Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
What is a Conservation Bank?
A conservation bank is a permanently protected parcel of land set aside to preserve high‑value habitat typically for endangered, threatened, or other species of concern.
What are the different types of conservation credits in Florida?
Florida offers several specialized endangered species credits that serve to offset development impacts on locally threatened wildlife. The main types include Panther Habitat Units, Sand Skink Credits, and Scrub Jay Credits.
What is a Panther Conservation Bank?
A Panther Conservation Bank is a protected habitat site within the Florida Panther Primary, Secondary, or Dispersal Zones, designed to preserve and enhance foraging, breeding, and movement corridors for the endangered Florida panther. These banks generate credits that can be used by developers to offset impacts to panther habitat within the designated Panther Focus Area.
What are PHUs (Panther Habitat Units)?
PHUs are the unit of measure used to quantify habitat value within the Florida panther conservation framework. They consider variables such as vegetation type, hydrology, and location relative to core habitat areas. PHUs help determine how many credits a conservation bank can sell or how much mitigation is needed to offset a project’s impact.
What is wood stork biomass, and why is it needed?
Wood stork biomass refers to the amount of available prey (mainly fish and amphibians) a wetland provides to support wood stork nesting. Projects within a certain distance of wood stork colonies must demonstrate no net loss of foraging habitat. Wetland mitigation banks often meet this requirement by maintaining or increasing available biomass.
What is a biodiversity credit, and are they required in Florida?
A biodiversity credit (or “biocredit”) represents quantified gains in ecosystem species richness or integrity. While not yet mandated in Florida, they are emerging as part of voluntary or private biodiversity-offset markets.
What are Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Florida, and why are ranchers using them?
BMPs are land-use practices like controlled grazing, buffer zones, or native planting to improve water quality and wildlife habitat. Ranchers use them to comply with water regulations and qualify for state conservation incentives.
What if I have wetlands on my property and want to build?
You will need an ERP permit from the State of Florida, and if impacts are unavoidable, you’ll be required to purchase wetland mitigation bank credits. If credits aren’t available locally, you can use out-of-area credits under new legislation.
What types of wetland mitigation credits does Revive Ecosystems, LLC offer?
Revive currently has Freshwater Forested and Herbaceous credits available in Basin 20, Lake Kissimmee, North Kissimmee, Middle Kissimmee, Lake Hatchineha, Lake Tohopekaliga, Lake Hart, and Lake Gentry drainage basins (HUC) in Florida.
What if there are no wetland credits available in my area?
Under the new laws, if credits are unavailable in the mitigation service area, Florida will allow out-of-service-area credits, applying multipliers based on the proximity of the impact site to the mitigation bank.
What is PRM (Permittee-Responsible Mitigation)?
PRM is when a developer chooses to offset their environmental impacts by restoring or protecting habitat on their own or nearby land, instead of purchasing credits from a mitigation bank. Revive supports PRM projects by handling planning, permitting, implementation, and long-term maintenance.
When is PRM more effective than purchasing mitigation bank credits?
PRM can be used for large projects with available land or unique ecological requirements. However, it requires long-term obligations and upfront investment. Mitigation Banks are generally preferred over PRMs when bank wetland credits are available. Revive can assess the most practical and cost-effective option for your project.
Why buy wetland credits instead of PRM sites?
Buying credits from a mitigation bank is faster, less risky, and more ecologically effective than creating your own mitigation plan. Mitigation banks and other types of ecological restoration sites, such as an off-site Permitted Responsible Mitigation (PRM) site, are pre-approved on our end and managed long-term by restoration experts. Our team’s number one focus is on the success of the ecological restoration site.
What are the benefits of mitigation banking?
• Faster permit approvals
• Regulatory certainty
• Professionally managed sites
• Ecological success
• Long-term protection of critical habitats
How many wetland credits will I need to purchase?
That’s determined during your permitting process. We’re happy to review your permit information and help you estimate your wetland credit requirement.
How much do mitigation credits cost?
Prices reflect demand-supply balance, land costs, ecological rarity, and restoration complexity. High-demand areas or rare habitat types elevate credit prices. We’ll guide you through current pricing and help you stay within budget.
Provide your permit or project info
We confirm basin eligibility and availability
You sign a simple purchase agreement
We issue the credit release letter for agency use
What should I do if I have a gopher tortoise on my land?
You must contact FWC or an Authorized Agent to verify species presence and arrange relocation. You may need to purchase recipient-site credits if development is permitted.
What is a gopher tortoise recipient site?
This refers to lands where relocated gopher tortoises are deposited and their habitat is permanently managed. Developers relocated tortoises to these sites when they cannot be protected on the development site.
What is an Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agent in Florida, and why are they important?
A State-certified agent authorized to handle gopher tortoises. They ensure relocations comply with regulations, coordinate with FWC, and validate credit transactions that are critical for lawful and ethical compliance.