California Construction News staff writer
California has officially conserved more than 25 percent of its land, a major milestone in the state’s conservation goals.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced the achievement as he launched California Biodiversity Week and released the 2024 Annual Progress Report for the 30×30 Initiative to protect 30% of the state’s lands and coastal waters by 2030.
According to the report, California has now conserved 25.2 percent of its land and 16.2 percent of its coastal waters. Since the program began in 2022, about 2,350 square miles—have been added to conservation areas. This year alone, 861,000 acres were newly protected.
“In four years, we’ve made significant progress toward our goal of conserving 30 percent of our lands and coastal waters by 2030,” Newsom said. “With over a quarter of our lands now protected, we’re on track to meet this target.
“We remain committed to preserving California’s natural beauty for future generations.”
The increase in conserved land includes newly protected areas as well as previously unverified lands now confirmed to meet the 30×30 standards.
The full report is available at resources.ca.gov.
The progress reflects the combined efforts of state leaders, federal partners, and local communities. Key achievements over the past year include:
- Launch of California’s first ancestral land return initiative through the Tribal Nature-Based Solutions Grant Program, which allocated $100 million to return approximately 40,000 acres to indigenous communities.
- Expansion of the San Gabriel Mountains and Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monuments, enhancing protection for about 120,000 acres of federal lands, supported by the Biden administration.
- Distribution of nearly $1.3 billion in state funding for conservation projects, including land acquisition, habitat restoration, and other initiatives.
