(Sacramento, Calif., Dec. 15, 2021)—Audubon California today hailed a draft plan from Gov. Gavin Newsom to conserve 30 percent of the state’s lands as an ambitious step towards climate resiliency and making the outdoors accessible to all Californians.
“Conserving 30 percent of land and waters is critical to preserving California’s natural resources and to creating a buffer against the most severe impacts of climate change,” said Sarah Rose, executive director of Audubon California. “Governor Newsom’s plan is an ambitious yet achievable way to protect California’s people and natural resources. Audubon looks forward to achieving 30 by 30 through partnerships with the governor, the legislature, communities, farmers, ranchers, and private landowners across the state.”
The plan calls for protecting California’s biodiversity with a wide array of strategies, including land protection, improving management of public lands, voluntary partnerships with private landowners, and accelerating habitat restoration efforts across the state. It also emphasizes the need to protect Native Californian tribal lands, improve access to nature in communities lacking parks or open space, and increase access points to trails and urban rivers. Overall, the plan strives to bring California’s considerable resources to bear to protect dwindling biodiversity and improve the state’s resilience to the impacts of climate change.
The public is invited to offer input on the plan through January 28.
###
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jason Howe, jason.howe@audubon.org; 415-595-9245
About Audubon
The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Audubon works throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. State programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners give Audubon an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. A nonprofit conservation organization since 1905, Audubon believes in a world in which people and wildlife thrive. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety.
