Skyline Conservation Bank: San Diego’s First Conservation Bank for Hermes Copper Butterfly
WRA is pleased to support the first conservation bank that protects the federally threatened Hermes copper butterfly (Lycaena hermes). The recently approved Skyline Conservation Bank includes 200 acres of mixed chaparral-dominated habitat, including southern maritime chaparral, coastal sage-chaparral, scrub oak chaparral, and Engelmann oak woodland. The property is connected to the larger Skyline Preserve located east of Jamul in San Diego County, California. Chaparral vegetation communities are classified as Tier II habitat, and Engelmann Oak Woodland is classified as Tier I habitat, both of which can be used to offset impacts to projects consistent with and permitted under the San Diego Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP). This Bank is approved to provide mitigation for the Hermes copper butterfly/chaparral (Tier II) and Engelmann Oak woodland (Tier I).
The development of this bank was truly a team effort. Starting in 2019, the Bank Sponsor, Skyline Land Partners, LLC, worked with local environmental powerhouse Endangered Habitats Conservancy (EHC) to secure the property as part of the larger Skyline Preserve. EHC and the Bank Sponsor then partnered with EnviroMine to complete bank entitlement activities and secured bank approval for the Bank Sponsor in 2023. EHC continues to support the Bank Sponsor by leading landscape management and maintenance efforts to preserve the property’s unique characteristics. WRA joined the team in 2025 to lead mitigation credit sales and marketing efforts to ensure the financial health of the project. Together, the team provides outstanding ecological, operational, and business management services to ensure the Bank’s success. WRA is appreciative of their efforts and looking forward to future partnerships with all parties on this bank.
Resource/More Information:
Skylineconservationbank.com
Regulatory In-lieu Fee & Bank Info Tracking System (RIBITS)
San Diego Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP)