Every Great Restoration Project Starts with the Right Piece of Land
Location, location, location—when it comes to nature-based solutions, the success of every restoration project, from wetland mitigation to coastal resilience initiatives, hinges on one critical factor: starting with the right piece of land.
GreenVest’s three decades of experience have taught us that effectively acquiring access to land is the foundation upon which all environmental outcomes rest. Our success in delivering 65+ full-delivery restoration projects illustrates how the land chooses the solution, not the other way around.
GV’s Primary Partners: Landowners
Even the most sophisticated site selection criteria mean nothing without the partnership of our willing landowners. GreenVest’s in-house team of land specialists collaborates directly with landowners to bring restoration and resiliency projects to fruition with the ultimate goal of understanding relevant needs and priorities so that our projects can serve both landowners and clients simultaneously. Our approach to landowner engagement is predicated on the fact that we are working with landowners to restore their land and deliver important environmental improvements.
Building Long-Term Relationships
Flexibility in Approach: GV understands that every property is different—we offer various pathways (both legal and technical) for our projects so that each implemented solution reflects the property’s opportunities and constraints while delivering desired outcomes.
Local Knowledge Integration: Landowners possess invaluable knowledge about their property’s history, hydrology, and ecological patterns. This familiarity is a critical component of our due diligence and site assessment processes to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes, whether for one landowner or a larger community.
Outreach and Education: GV is committed in clear communication—we coordinate with landowners and others affected by our projects to make sure they are apprised of project progress and timelines. For projects spanning multiple properties, such as those in dense, urban communities, it is especially important to relay project goals, outcomes, and processes to minimize community concern or disruption. We also coordinate with community groups and educational organizations to advance environmental programming about restoration and the benefits of ecological uplift.
Case Study: Middle Branch Resiliency Initiative
Our Middle Branch Resiliency Initiative exemplifies the power of strategic land acquisition combined with meaningful community partnership. This $67+ million project protecting 11+ miles of Patapsco River shoreline required assembling multiple parcels across diverse ownership patterns while navigating complex urban environmental justice considerations.
The project’s success stems from early recognition that effective coastal resilience requires landscape-scale thinking. Rather than pursuing individual parcels opportunistically, we worked closely with South Baltimore Gateway Partnership to develop a comprehensive vision for shoreline protection that guided targeted acquisition efforts. Our ongoing work in the Middle Branch is addressing flooding and erosion threats facing nearly 410,000 residents on both public and private property.
Conclusion: Partners in Restoration
At GreenVest, we’ve learned that the most successful restoration projects are completed in collaboration with landowners. When a project serves the values and interests of varying stakeholders, the project’s benefits extend beyond ecological function to provide economic, community, resilience, recreation, and aesthetic improvements. This partnership-centered approach has enabled us to deliver measurable environmental outcomes across 48,000+ acres while maintaining positive community relationships.
The land may be the foundation of restoration, but landowners are the partners that make it possible.
Ready to explore how strategic land acquisition can transform your environmental restoration goals? Our team brings three decades of experience in identifying, acquiring, and restoring critical lands in the United States. Contact us at action@greenvestus.com or call 410-987-5500 to discuss restoration opportunities on your property.
