Valuing wet lands for conservation in the US should not be a as cumbersome as we make it. In other countries Cap and Trade pretty much solves this problem, using a Hectare Analysis can provide the range of Carbon sequestration that can take place in a wet land and produce credits for valuation. The creation of wet banks and credits by HUC can provide guidance on value if and when development velocity ever pick up in these areas. Will we ever see cap and trade passed in the US? Most likely not anytime in the near future. However there are plenty of comparable sales in the Southeastern US of Sate by State DNR purchases over the past ten years to to give us an idea of what the per acre value is from a monetarily position. Valuing the last snail or turtle left in a wetland is not something you can place a number on.