Governor Gavin Newsome | Facebook Website
Governor Newsom announced that California is on track to reach its goal of conserving 30% of the state’s lands and coastal waters by the year 2030.
SACRAMENTO – California has officially conserved more than 25% of its land as it progresses towards achieving its ambitious conservation goals.
Today, Governor Gavin Newsom commenced California Biodiversity Week with the release of the 2024 Annual Progress Report for the 30×30 Initiative – California’s commitment to conserve 30% of state lands and coastal waters by the year 2030.
The report indicates significant progress, with the state now having conserved 25.2% of its lands and 16.2% of its coastal waters.
Since the inception of the 30×30 effort in 2022, California has added nearly 1.5 million acres—or approximately 2,350 square miles—of conserved lands. This year alone saw an addition of 861,000 acres to California's conserved lands under the initiative.
"In 2020, I signed an executive order to conserve 30% of lands and 30% of coastal waters in California by 2030. And four years into this effort, we’re on track to achieve this target, with over a quarter of our lands protected. We won’t stop working to protect California’s unparalleled natural beauty for generations to come," said Governor Gavin Newsom.
"California has conserved 25.2% of our state’s lands so far — well on our way to meeting our 30×30 goal of safeguarding 30% of lands and 30% of coastal waters by 2030," he added in a tweet from his official account.
The increase in acreage this year includes areas newly conserved over the past twelve months as well as properties previously lacking sufficient data regarding their protection and management levels for biodiversity but now confirmed to meet California’s stringent criteria for conservation under the initiative. The full report can be accessed at resources.ca.gov.
This progress stems from collaboration among California leaders, federal government support, and efforts from on-the-ground practitioners, land managers, tribal governments, and communities. Key milestones achieved over the past year include:
- The Tribal Nature-Based Solutions Grant Program facilitated California's first-ever ancestral land return effort by providing $100 million in funding for returning roughly 40,000 acres to indigenous communities.
- Expansion initiatives led by the Biden administration enhanced protections for approximately 120,000 acres within San Gabriel Mountains and Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monuments.
- Deployment of almost $1.3 billion in Nature-Based Solution state funding allocated over three years by Governor Newsom and the Legislature aimed at acquiring and conserving properties and restoring habitats.
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