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Event Draws Hundreds of Leaders to Jumpstart Collaboration
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Natural Resources Agency today hosted an array of local, state, federal and tribal partners to formally engage in conserving 30 percent of the state’s land and coastal waters by 2030 (30x30). The effort is part of Governor Newsom’s initiative to protect biodiversity, advance equitable access to nature and combat climate change through voluntary, collaborative actions centered on nature.
In April, California issued its strategy for achieving its first-in-the-nation 30x30 conservation goal. Pathways to 30x30: Accelerating Conservation of California’s Nature identifies concurrent paths for action that hinge on empowering local and regional partners, including federal agencies, Native American tribes, county governments, land trusts, resource conservation districts, environmental conservation groups and others. The strategy established the 30x30 Partnership as an organized forum and platform for coordination and collaboration in months and years to come.
“Conserving nature is a key part of combating climate change and protecting life across the world,” said California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “California is leading the way through 30x30 by protecting more natural areas in ways that expand outdoor access and strengthen tribal partnerships. At a critical moment in the life of our planet, we’re showing how people and nature can thrive together.”
The Pathways to 30x30 strategy helps to implement the Governor’s nature-based solutions executive order, which identified California’s lands as a critical yet underutilized sector in the fight against climate change. These lands cover 90 percent of California’s 105 million acres, and can remove and store carbon emissions, limit future carbon emissions into the atmosphere, and buffer climate impacts. Climate-smart management of California lands also safeguards public health and safety, protects food and water supplies, and enhances equity.
Last month, Governor Newsom and the California Legislature approved more than $750 million in new funding to advance 30x30. This funding will enable local and regional groups to expand environmental conservation across the state and expand practices that meet our climate, biodiversity and equitable access goals.
California’s 30x30 initiative is part of an international movement to conserve natural areas across the planet, through which scores of countries have established their own 30x30 commitments. California’s initiative seeks to protect and restore biodiversity, expand access to nature, and mitigate and build resilience to climate change. The effort drives and aligns with broader state commitments to advance justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, strengthen tribal partnerships, and sustain economic prosperity, clean energy resources, and food supply.
The Pathways to 30x30 strategy estimates that 24 percent of California’s lands and 16 percent of coastal waters are protected for environmental health today. It calls for additional protection of 6 million acres of land and 500,000 acres of coastal waters in the next seven years to achieve 30x30.
The 30x30 strategy complements the state’s Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy and newly launched California Outdoors for All Initiative. Taken together, these efforts will drive action on biodiversity, access and climate across California.
Information on Pathways to 30x30 and upcoming partnership events can be found at www.CaliforniaNature.ca.gov.
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On a mission to restore, protect and manage California's natural, historical and cultural resources.
