2007 Regional Finalist: EcoInsure (Yale)
EcoInsure is a startup insurance company serving the needs of the land conservation community. Its primary product will be insurance covering the legal costs of enforcing and defending conservation easements. Conservation easements – legal agreements permanently limiting development of a property – are an increasingly popular tool for conserving private lands. However, many easement holding organizations (primarily land trusts) currently do not have the financial capacity to enforce or defend their easements in court. EcoInsure offers a product which ensures the continued use of the conservation easement as a tool for conservation.