Biodiversity - Environmental Protection - CA Public Resources

Section § 71450

This law section defines the "30x30 goal," which is California's aim to conserve 30% of the state's land and coastal waters by 2030. The "Pathways to 30x30 Report" is also explained as a document that outlines how to accelerate conservation efforts, which was published by the Natural Resources Agency in April 2022. Overall, this is a part of California's commitment to environmental conservation.

(a) For the purposes of this part, the following definitions apply:

(1) “30x30 goal” means the goal to conserve 30 percent of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030 established in subdivision (b) and by Executive Order No. N-82-20.

(2) “Pathways to 30x30 Report” means the report entitled “Pathways to 30x30 California: Accelerating Conservation of California’s Nature” that was issued by the Natural Resources Agency on April 22, 2022.

(b) It is the goal of the state to conserve at least 30 percent of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030.

30x30 goal conservation California lands coastal waters 2030 environmental goal Natural Resources Agency Pathways to 30x30 Report Executive Order N-82-20 land conservation coastal conservation environmental goals conservation efforts accelerating conservation nature conservation state conservation initiative

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 392, Sec. 1. (SB 337) Effective January 1, 2024.)

Section § 71451

This law outlines actions the Natural Resources Agency should prioritize to achieve California's goal of conserving 30% of its land and coastal waters by 2030. The agency is to establish a partnership that includes various councils and networks, conduct outreach to engage marginalized communities, promote regional efforts for equitable access to nature, and support tribal leadership. It should also coordinate with state, local, and federal bodies, partner with federal agencies for funding, and support state agencies in land acquisition and stewardship.

In implementing the 10 pathways and specific near-term priority actions described in the Pathways to 30x30 Report to achieve the 30x30 goal, the Natural Resources Agency shall prioritize the following actions:

(a) Creating and facilitating the 30x30 Partnership, which includes the Ocean Protection Council, 30x30 Coordinating Committee, California Biodiversity Council, and California Biodiversity Network.

(b) Conducting public outreach to engage historically marginalized communities in the planning and implementation of the 30x30 goal.

(c) Identifying and promoting regional 30x30 goal efforts, including efforts that enhance equitable public access to nature.

(d) Supporting tribal engagement and leadership in implementing the 30x30 goal.

(e) Enhancing coordination between state, local, and federal agencies and departments to ensure that relevant state programs and actions are complementary to, and assist achieving, the 30x30 goal.

(f) Partnering with federal agencies to leverage strategic funding and resources in achieving the 30x30 goal.

(g) Promoting and supporting partnering state agencies and departments that acquire and steward state land, including, but not limited to, the Department of Parks and Recreation, in the acquisition of new state land and responsible stewardship of state land, as feasible.

30x30 goal Natural Resources Agency Ocean Protection Council California Biodiversity Council public outreach engage marginalized communities tribal engagement state and federal coordination land acquisition land stewardship equitable access to nature 30x30 Partnership California Biodiversity Network strategic funding regional conservation efforts

(Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 716, Sec. 2. (AB 2440) Effective January 1, 2025.)

Section § 71452

This law requires the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to prepare a yearly report for the Legislature by March 31, starting in 2024, showing California's progress toward conserving 30% of its land and waters by 2030, known as the 30x30 goal. The report must cover several key areas: the number of acres conserved and still needed, a summary of annual progress and priorities, details on state funding use, and achievements by the 30x30 Partnership. It should also discuss interactive mapping tools development, coordination with other agencies, efforts toward equity including community and tribal engagement, barriers encountered, and future benchmarks and actions required.

Additionally, the report must follow specific Government Code provisions for submission.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency shall prepare and submit, on or before March 31, 2024, and annually thereafter, a report to the Legislature on the progress made in the prior calendar year toward achieving the 30x30 goal. The report shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following information:

(1) The number of acres conserved in the prior calendar year and the number of acres remaining that need to be conserved to meet the 30x30 goal, including information on how that goal is conserving California’s imperiled biodiversity.

(2) A summary of the progress made in the prior calendar year to advance toward the 30x30 goal and the near-term priority actions identified in the Pathways to 30x30 Report.

(3) How and where state funding that was expended in the prior calendar year was used in furtherance of the 30x30 goal, including the amount of funding expended by each partnering state agency and department for land and water conservation, science and research, public outreach and engagement, and managing, monitoring, and restoring conserved lands and water.

(4) The progress made by the 30x30 Partnership in the prior calendar year, including by the 30x30 Coordinating Committee, California Biodiversity Council, and California Biodiversity Network.

(5) The status of, and progress made by, CA Nature, which is the suite of interactive mapping and visualization tools developed pursuant to the 30x30 goal, and other scientific research or tools developed in the prior calendar year to support the 30x30 goal.

(6) The coordination between local, state, and federal agencies in support of the 30x30 goal.

(7) The progress made in the prior calendar year to address equity as part of the 30x30 goal, including state funding invested in community engagement, planning, acquisition and restoration, equitable outdoor access, and expenditures for efforts by tribes or community-based groups.

(8) Identified barriers to implementing the 30x30 goal and recommended actions taken or needed to address those barriers.

(9) Interim benchmarks for the next calendar year to help meet the 30x30 goal and specific actions to implement the 30x30 goal.

(b) A report to be submitted pursuant to this section shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

30x30 goal conserved acres biodiversity conservation state funding allocation 30x30 Partnership interactive mapping tools equity in conservation community engagement tribal efforts land and water conservation California Biodiversity Council barriers to implementation interim benchmarks legislative report progress summary

(Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 716, Sec. 3. (AB 2440) Effective January 1, 2025.)