Conserving 30 percent of our lands and coastal waters by 2030.
What is 30x30?
In October 2020, Governor Newsom signed his Nature Based Solutions Executive Order N-82-20, elevating the role of natural and working lands in the fight against climate change and advancing biodiversity conservation as an administration priority.
As part of this Executive Order, California committed to the goal of conserving 30 percent of our lands and coastal waters by 2030.
30x30 is part of an international movement, to use conservation of natural areas to protect biodiversity and combat climate change.
To date, over 70 countries have signed onto the pledge...
and California!
The Governor's Executive Order directs us to achieve 30x30 in a manner that...
Protects Biodiversity
From the giant sequoia to the tiny Mount Lyell shrew, there are thousands of species found nowhere else on Earth that rely on California’s diverse land- and sea-scapes as habitat.
Close-up photo of a sea otter floating on its back, with annotation it the top right corner reading “Monterey, Grab life by the moments.”
Improves Equitable Access to Nature for All
Working to achieve 30x30 provides an opportunity to expand equitable outdoor access and recreation for all Californians. This will require consideration of not only which lands and coastal waters are conserved, but also how they can be sustainably and equitably managed to reflect the needs and interests of local communities.
Photo of four children running along a rocky trail with shrub-covered, rocky mountains in the background.
Combats Climate Change
We can use our lands to sequester carbon and increase our resilience to the effects of climate change. Intensifying wildfires, heat waves, floods, sea level rise, and drought are already causing substantial damage to California’s natural and cultural resources, communities, public health, and economy.
Climate smart land management provides a functional way to build resilience and achieve carbon neutrality.
Photo of Lake Oroville surrounded by green hills rising above brown lakeside with thick plumes of smoke from the 2018 Camp Fire blanketing the sky.
Pathways to 30x30 Document
The Executive Order directs the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) to coordinate the execution of 30x30 with other State agencies and stakeholders through a series of actions including the development of a strategy document by February 2022. This document is called Pathways to 30x30.
The Pathways to 30x30 document will identify opportunities and challenges to achieving 30x30. It will also identify strategies that will help us to meet our goals. This document is intended to set us on the path to successful implementation of 30x30.
Over the past year, through a collaborative and inclusive public engagement process, CNRA has been gathering expert opinions and asking people around the state for what, in their view, are our best opportunities and strategies for achieving 30x30.
Image overlooking delta wetland environment, showing water weaving among grasses and reeds.
Photo of Bixby Creek Bridge spanning along the Big Sur coastline in Monterey County.
Cow standing in a green, grassy field with blue mountains lining the horizon in the background.
Photo of a wetland where a group of sandhill cranes and other waterfowl gather.
Group of people walking along a trail through a Redwood grove.
CA Nature
At the same time, CNRA is developing a geographic information system, a collection of publicly accessible interactive digital mapping tools, called CA Nature GIS.
Image showing an illustration of data layered over land which reads “Maps” underneath, an illustration of data integrated with land which reads “Analysis” underneath, and an illustration of a location marker with data pinpointed on land which reads “Apps” underneath.
CA Nature combines maps, analysis, and applications to identify conservation opportunities.
CA Nature will bring together maps of biodiversity, climate change, and access so we can view and analyze different features of the landscape in one place.
It will allow us to identify places across California where we have the opportunity to achieve our biodiversity, climate, and equity goals.
The State will use CA Nature to assess what percentage of California is already conserved and track progress toward our goal.
Timeline
Public participation and input are critical to help the State identify strategies for conserving lands and coastal waters and enlist our network of natural and working lands in the fight against climate change.
In January, CNRA hosted a public engagement kick-off webinar that drew in over 800 people. From there, they:
Began a formal consultation process with Califiornia Native American Tribes and listening sessions
Launched CaliforniaNature.ca.gov to serve as a portal for visitors to learn about and engage in our work
Held 9 virtual regional workshops to gather place-based perspectives on 30x30
Held 5 topical workshops on climate change, equity, biodiversity, and the conservation of lands and coastal waters
Released a public input questionnaire to gather experiences and ideas from a broad cross-section of Californians.
CNRA will be releasing Pathways to 30x30 for the public's review and input soon. This strategy document and CA Nature will be finalized and delivered in February 2022.
Major milestones of the 30x30 initiative.
Major milestones of the 30x30 initiative.
Contact Us
CNRA wants your input! Help us understand what the challenges and opportunities to conservation are. Give us your recommendations about what has worked and what needs more attention. We have multiple ways to provide your experiences and ideas:
Send a letter to 715 P Street, Sacramento, CA 9581
Call and leave a voicemail at 1-800-417-0668
Send an email to californianature@resources.ca.gov
You can find all of this information at our website, CaliforniaNature.ca.gov. Check it out to learn more, share your input and keep informed. We really hope you get involved in 30x30 if you aren’t already.
Collaboration is key to the success of 30x30. All Californians must come together to conserve our state.
Two people kneeling on a grassy hillside, one handing the other a plant seedling, with a line of blurry cars in the background.
Collection of trail and recreation site signs posted at a desert recreation site, with blue mountains against a clear sky in the background.
Yellow grassy hillside in the foreground, sloping down to lookout point where two people stand overlooking the ocean.
CA Nature combines maps, analysis, and applications to identify conservation opportunities.
