New online hub for California landowners, conservation investors to help wildlife

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and partners of the Central Valley Habitat Exchange have announced the launch of a new website (cvhe.org) to showcase the efforts of program participants who are conserving wildlife habitat in the Central Valley of California. These participants include a handful of California farms and ranches featured throughout the website in striking photos, personal testimonials and an interactive map.

The Central Valley Habitat Exchange is an innovative conservation program that provides new revenue opportunities for farmers and ranchers to create and maintain habitat on their working lands. The program pairs willing landowners with investors and mitigation buyers seeking to meet their conservation goals. Ultimately, the exchange was designed to streamline and attract new conservation investments, while increasing transparency and accountability.

“Our vision with the website was to make conservation come to life in the photos of local wildlife and the testimonials from stewarding landowners who are the real story behind the Central Valley Habitat Exchange,” said Ann Hayden, senior director of California wildlife at EDF. “The hope is that the website inspires more landowners and conservation investors to use the exchange as a way to achieve their own conservation goals.”

The most unique conservation innovations made publically accessible with the launch of the Central Valley Habitat Exchange website include the habitat quantification tool and the exchange registry.

“The habitat quantification tool is a one-of-a-kind, robust science tool for assessing both the quantity and quality of habitat for multiple species,” Hayden said. The website features an animated explainer video of the tool. “The exchange registry tracks and reports on the status and outcomes of each conservation project, offering the utmost transparency, accountability and confidence for investors, landowners and regulators.”

Roger Cornwell is the general manager of River Garden Farms, a 15,000-acre farm growing a variety of crops including rice, sunflowers, tomatoes, safflower, wheat, alfalfa and walnuts. Cornwell is one of the program participants featured on the exchange website.

“Sustainability is generational for us,” Cornwell said. “My roots are here and my family is here, so it’s important to me to care for the place where my kids and their kids will live. Participating in the exchange gives us the tools and support we need to be good stewards of the entire ecosystem.”

To learn more about the Central Valley Habitat Exchange and participation, visit www.cvhe.org.