An environmental restoration company with people at the core

Welcome to Vivus Viridis–or V2 as we like to call ourselves! If we haven’t met in person yet, this will give you a little insight into our story and why trusted partnerships are at the core of who we are and what we do.

Vivus Viridis–what?

Adam is the founder, and he’s the one who came up with the name. Loosely translated, Vivus Viridis means “living, or alive, green”, and couples Adam’s passion for living things that thrive.

We nickname ourselves V2 because that’s a lot easier to remember.

Adam has been in the environmental industry for close on three decades, starting and leading several companies. After a good bit of reflection that comes with midlife, Adam started V2 with a passion to create an environmental company that builds trusted, thriving partnerships where everyone, including the land, is better off, thanks to that connection. Whether that’s a partnership with landowners like farmers or developers, or a stream and all the creatures that populate it, or governmental agencies protecting our natural resources, or colleagues contemplating the best way to accomplish something, V2 works to nurture partnerships that prosper.

Our team of environmental scientists, land professionals, and project managers is passionate about this industry. They bring a level of expertise and excitement that is both reassuring and infectious. The industry itself is relatively small, and over time we've built important relationships within the mitigation banking ecosystem.

Krystyn Bennett

Krystyn is a native and proud Texan, and a very proud Aggie! (C/O ’16)!

She’s an up-and-coming superstar in the mitigation industry that decided to join V2 because she wants to build a company that has an impact on restoring the environment while caring for people through that process.

Krystyn started back in 2017 and at one point managed one of the largest mitigation portfolios in the Southwest. She blends a diverse skill set that is ideal for project management and technical operations.

She has worked in many different districts and is poised to grow into a leadership role as V2 expands and grows.

Jamey O’Shaughnessey

Jamey is another up-and-coming star in the mitigation industry.

He is a Georgia boy with a Clemson education and a unique background that includes economic finance, environmental, and land. Jamey started his career in 2019 and was a key part of a start-up firm in the mitigation industry.

He has a great passion for monetizing various land practices and nurturing partnership between V2 and landowners. Jamey is an avid outdoorsman that doesn’t go very far without a fishing pole in hand!

Rance Frey

Rance is a seasoned land specialist with over 30 years of experience in sustainable forestry, land acquisition, and environmental stewardship. With a strong background in GIS mapping, regulatory compliance, and timber procurement, he has led large-scale conservation and development projects across the United States.

He is a certified forester and is passionate about environmental sustainability. As a respected leader in the industry, Rance loves building relationships with landowners and stakeholders around the country.

Scott

Scott Frederick brings over 25 years of experience as an environmental engineer, ecologist, and soil scientist, with deep expertise in natural resource restoration, including wetlands, streams, riparian buffers, and nutrient offset projects.

A North Carolina native and NC State graduate, Scott has led full-cycle restoration efforts—from design and permitting to construction, monitoring, and project close-out—across a wide range of ecological and water resource systems. Scott has helped build multiple companies throughout his career, and is now a technical lead at V2, also playing a key role in expanding new business opportunities. We love Scott’s positive energy and collaborative spirit.

We love trees, birds, fish–and people

After working in this field for this long, one could call us experts in compensatory mitigation, nutrient reduction, carbon sequestration, environmental compliance, land resource planning, and regulatory permitting. That’s a lot of industry terminology, but at the core we go beyond conservation; we believe in the principle of stewardship, which means looking after precious natural resources through ingenious and sustainable practices.

CONTACT

True environmental stewardship requires collaboration across a multitude of stakeholders.

Landowners play an integral role in providing sites that earn valuable environmental credits—a process that yields significant financial rewards for landowners while contributing to national and global sustainability goals.

For developers, agencies, and permittees seeking compensatory mitigation solutions, we offer these earned credits. This system doesn't only ensure compliance but also promotes responsible development practices by offsetting impacts through high-quality ecological projects.

Let’s do this together!

Whether you’re considering your land for mitigation purposes or purchasing credits for developmental impact compensation—you're partaking in something bigger: A commitment towards remedying the impacts of the past and enjoying nature’s beauty in the future.

Improve your investment

Landowners generally see their property values rise.

Generate more income

Potentially unproductive areas of your property become income generators.

Stewardship and legacy

Feel good about improving and restoring your land while enjoying the beauty of a healthy ecosystem.

Maintain ownership and Privacy

Your land is protected into perpetuity for your grandchildren and other future owners, including protection from development. And, you are not required nor obligated to make that piece of land open to the public.

How do I qualify my land ?

Every step is a little different depending on the particular piece of land (if you're a landowner) or the project (if you're a developer). Either call us on (919) 321-6510, or, if you don’t feel like talking right now, let us know where your land or project is located:

FAQs – Unraveling common queries

1How do I know if my land qualifies?

There are some general characteristics, but please don't hesitate to reach out if you have a question, because the easiest way to determine eligibility is by a site visit. We look for:

Streams that have been changed in any way during the land's usage and need to be restored to their natural shape and function.
Wet pastures or drained/crowned fields.
Places where there was a wetland that was drained and where the vegetation around that wetland was removed.
Property located near natural habitats, like state forests and wildlife refuges.
Property that drains to a water supply watershed.
Land that lies next to water-quality impaired streams, like impaired streams on a state’s Clean Water Act, Section 303 (d).

2How will this affect my day-to-day farm operations?

Strategic restorations often lead toward improved efficiency. For example, restoring a stream's natural curve can improve drought and flood resilience, which in turn affects crop yields.

3Can I still utilize every part of my land effectively after implementing a conservation easement?

We work with you to map out the section of land that needs to be restored while balancing that with your ongoing needs. Easements are usually along streams and around wetlands, and form a small percentage of the overall piece of land. Almost all of the projects we've worked on with landowners have addressed unusable tracts of land, which once restored, provided welcome passive income.

4Are there any usage restrictions on a conservation easement?

The purpose of a conservation easement is to protect the land. With this in mind, there are some restrictions. For example, no one is able to develop within that easement area, or disturb its natural state. If you farm with livestock, we’ll construct facilities to make sure your animals still have access to water. Don’t worry, we love your animals, too!

5What can I do on a conservation easement?

Once a piece of land is established as a conservation easement, it is essentially protected in perpetuity. You, and those after you, will be able to enjoy the land as long as there is no damage done to the natural integrity of the area. Outdoor recreational activities like fishing, hunting, hiking, and other quiet enjoyment are encouraged. And, this does not mean that the easement is now available for public use; it remains your private land.

6Do I retain the title to the land?

Absolutely. As a landowner, you retain the title to the land. You are still able to sell or will your property.

7How much will I be paid?

Compensation is commonly paid on a per acre or lump sum basis, although we can spread payments out over time if that's more advantageous. The actual value is influenced by a bunch of things, like the size of the property and the easement, the natural resources, the quality of the habitat, the watershed within which it is located, the demand, and so on. Part of the compensation can also include property amenities and farm improvements like cattle exclusion watering, fencing, and stream crossings.

8How regulated is the mitigation banking industry?

Every physical site gets registered with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The regulatory bodies that oversee this whole industry are the USACE primarily, as well as the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), US Fish and Wildlife, and other state-specific entities.