About Ecotrust
Ecotrust's mission is to inspire fresh thinking that creates economic opportunity, social equity and environmental well-being. Ecotrust is headquartered in Portland and is a unique organization; it integrates public and private purpose and for-profit and non-profit structures. Ecotrust's many innovations include co-founding the world's first environmental bank, starting the world's first ecosystem investment fund, creating a range of programs in fisheries, forestry, food, farms and children's health, and developing new scientific and information tools to improve social, economic and environmental decision-making. Ecotrust works locally in ways that promise hope abroad, and it takes inspiration from the wisdom of Native and First Nations. Over nearly 20 years, Ecotrust has converted $60 million in grants into more than $300 million in capital for local people, businesses, and organizations from Alaska to California.
Ecotrust's role is to innovate, invest and inspire. It is:
- a "think tank" designed to identify deep innovation;
- a "do tank" designed to invest in promising innovations as proof of concept; and
- a constellation of public, private, for-profit and non-profit organizations designed to inspire people around the world.
An American Original
In a recent blind survey, Ecotrust asked thousands of people a simple question: What other organization in America is similar to Ecotrust? The resounding answer: Ecotrust is an American original.
The history of Ecotrust is a story of innovation, adaptation and evolution. A committed group of individuals led by Spencer Beebe founded Ecotrust in 1991 in Portland. Previously, Beebe co-founded Conservation International and served as the president of The Nature Conservancy International. Beebe and his colleagues founded Ecotrust with the goal of bringing to America the best sustainability and conservation ideas emerging around the world. The original Ecotrust mission to foster conservation-based development in local communities from Alaska to California eventually evolved into a more ambitious mission to help lead an American economic revolution by demonstrating new business models based on economic, social and environmental principles. Ecotrust believes the world needs new systems-based approaches to its challenges, because social, economic and environmental conditions are interconnected and interdependent parts of a larger system of life support. Only systemic solutions solve systemic problems.
Making a Difference
Ecotrust takes its inspiration from nature and believes that its fundamental challenge is a broader understanding of the intimate relationship between the human condition and the health of all living systems. We help to create a more resilient, lasting world through a variety of investment and program strategies:
Investment
To spur the creation of the necessary institutional capacity for the development of a more resilient economy, Ecotrust created the Natural Capital Fund. The fund makes investments in key sectors, businesses and projects which significantly enhance the capacity for appropriate development and conservation from Alaska to California. The fund is intended to serve as a catalyst, leveraging other investments through partnerships, joint ventures and other collaborations. This approach led Ecotrust to co-found the world's first environmental bank ShoreBank Pacific — which lends money to projects that consider economic, social and environmental imperatives.
Knowledge Systems
Critical to discovering lasting solutions to community and conservation challenges is to first understand the economy and ecology of a given region. We have a deep commitment to research and expertise in geographic information systems, economic market assessment, policy analysis, and strategy. We apply that knowledge through programmatic, consulting and investment activities.
Fisheries
Thriving coastal communities are vital to America's health, and yet they are under constant pressure from declining fisheries, tough economic conditions, and environmental degradation. Ecotrust addresses these issues by working within coastal communities from Alaska to California to help set policy, to conduct biological and economic research, and to finance commercial fisheries.
Food & Farms
Ecotrust envisions a world where healthy farms and communities are the norm and not the exception in regional food networks. We help to create this world by building direct connections between farmers, ranchers, and fishermen and distributors, restaurant chefs, grocery retail buyers, and many other food buyers. We specialize in getting regionally grown and produced food into public schools and publish Edible Portland magazine, among other activities.
Forestry & Ecosystem Services
We believe that forest ecosystems should be managed for long-term value, not short-term income. That's why we seek to develop new markets primarily around carbon, biodiversity and water to help preserve the remaining coast temperate rainforest spanning Alaska to California. We seek to protect and restore lands, rivers and oceans while delivering financial benefit to landowners and communities. This approach led us to create the world's first forest ecosystem investment fund, which balances select-cutting, carbon storage, and forest restoration to produce value for investors, communities and nature.
Native Programs
Honoring native people reminds the world of its shared history and connection with the land. That's why we proudly administer the Ecotrust Award for Indigenous Leadership, which honors and supports the achievements of the most influential indigenous leaders of our time. We also work with a network of native leaders to assist with community development, land repatriation and restoration initiatives.
Ecotrust's Major Accomplishments
- Creating $300 million in capital for the people, communities and businesses of the West Coast (from Alaska to California).
- Publishing more than 25 books and hundreds of research papers and documents.
- Receiving $50 million in New Markets Tax Credits from the U.S. Treasury Department to pursue a forest ecosystem investment strategy.
- Mapping the coastal temperate rainforest of North America (spanning mid-Alaska to northern California), leading to its recognition as the largest forest of its type in the world.
- Working with the Haisla First Nation to protect the 800,000-acre Kitlope River rain forests watershed in British Columbia, perhaps the largest watershed of its type remaining in the world.
- Launching Ecotrust Forests LLC, the world's first forest ecosystem investment fund, now with thousands of acres under management on the West Coast.
- Co-founding the world's first environmental bank ShoreBank Pacific and Shorebank Enterprise Cascadia now with $300 million in assets.
- Creating the North Pacific Fisheries Trust, a $6 million fund for the benefit of local fishermen in Oregon, Washington and Alaska.
- Completing America's first LEED-certified-gold historic building renovation, the Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center in Portland, Oregon.
- Launching a public forestry initiative with $1 million from the Environmental Protection Agency.
- Serving as a lynchpin in a $20 million local food network.
- Receiving an Andrew W. Mellon national award for innovation for creating technology that improves ocean use and planning.
- Building a network of America's most important indigenous leaders, and recognizing them each year with awards and financial support.
- Creating The New Mainstream, a Vivid Picture of Sustainable Agriculture in California, the first statewide, holistic assessment of agriculture in the world based on social, economic and environmental principles.
- Launching Salmon Nation, as a generous citizenship brand intended to connect people who live in all areas of the world where Pacific salmon swim.
