California is making significant strides with its 30×30 strategy, an ambitious environmental initiative to conserve 30% of the state’s lands and coastal waters by 2030. This effort is part of a global movement to preserve biodiversity, address climate change and enhance natural spaces. California Gov. Gavin Newsom launched the strategy in 2020 through an executive order to combat climate and biodiversity crises with conservation and sustainable land management.

A recent progress report from Newsom and the California Natural Resources Agency highlights that nearly 1.5 million acres—approximately 2,350 square miles—have been added to the state’s conserved lands since the initiative began. To date, California has protected 25.2% of its lands and 16.2% of its coastal waters, with just over five years remaining to meet the goal. The state monitors progress using the CA Nature tool, an interactive platform that maps biodiversity, access, climate and conservation data for lands and coastal waters.

The Catalina Island Conservancy is proud to support California’s 30×30 objectives. Last October, Conservancy President and CEO Whitney Latorre attended the 30×30 Partnership Summit, hosted by the California Natural Resources Agency. The annual event gathers partners across the state to inspire action, foster collaboration and integrate innovative approaches toward achieving the 30×30 goals.

Catalina Island Conservancy

California has made great progress toward the 30×30 goals, with 25.5% of land and 16.2% of coastal waters conserved. How is the state positioned to achieve 30% by 2030? What challenges remain?

Hertel

We are thrilled to be on track to reach our 30×30 targets, and this last year announced that an additional 861,000 acres of conserved areas were counted toward our 30×30 targets. But we know that reaching the end goal of 30% of lands and coastal waters conserved in California won’t be easy. We have an additional 4.8 million acres of land and 500,000 acres of coastal waters that must be durably conserved and managed for biodiversity to reach this ambitious target. We also know 30% by itself is not enough; we need to ensure that the breadth of California’s incredible biodiversity is conserved and that those conserved areas are connected with corridors allowing species movement. We are also proud that California has created objectives to preserve 30% of land and coastal waters and is looking for opportunities to increase climate resilience, mitigation and equitable outdoor access to meet our 30×30 commitment. We are also committed to achieving 30×30 in a way that strengthens tribal partnerships, advances justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, and sustains our economic prosperity, clean energy resources and food supply.

As we look forward to the second half of 30×30, some challenges/opportunities include continuing to advance biodiversity conservation protections on federal lands. Roughly 50% of California is owned by the federal government. With the change in administration, increasing the level of conservation protection on federal lands is likely to be more challenging for the next several years, although we will continue to work closely with our federal partners to ensure that California’s biodiversity is protected.

With willing landowners, integrating multiple funding sources to advance acquisitions, easements, and restoration–California is coming off several years of historic levels of investment in land and water conservation. For example, through the Nature-Based Solution Package, Governor Newsom and the State Legislature allocated almost $1.3 billion in state funding over the last three years. Going forward with the decreasing state budget, all of us working to achieve 30×30 will need to think creatively about financing with opportunities through the recently passed Proposition 4, funding from “advanced mitigation,” and private sector investments to achieve our targets.

Ensuring 30×30 is more than the sum of its parts. For 30×30 to be successful, we know that it will need to be more than the sum of its individual acres, so we are working to ensure that conserved areas are connected to support species movement and that we have protected the breadth of biodiversity that makes California special.

Catalina Island Conservancy

What do you attribute to the state’s 30×30 success so far?

Hertel

California’s 30×30 success is due to many factors, but a few key ones include an extensive public process to create a strong and inclusive pathway to 30×30 with a strategy defined as what counts as “conserved”. It also outlines 10 key strategies for achieving 30×30, three core commitments and three objectives. This 18-month public process included regional workshops, over 70 tribal consultations, expert panels, and thousands of public comments and resulted in a strong roadmap for how we will achieve 30×30.

One significant piece from our public planning process was that the only way we would achieve 30×30 was through an inclusive, ground-up approach. This approach of supporting and including conservation happening across the state from the very local levels up has created a 30×30 movement and ensured that critical local conservation projects are included and advanced.

A clear, easy-to-understand common goal that helps inspire and align people to work together to achieve a common outcome.

Catalina Island Conservancy

You recently returned from COP16. What insights did you gain? What role does California play in global biodiversity goals?

Hertel

California Secretary for Natural Resources recently published an excellent blog that summarized the biggest takeaways from this gathering. I think his takeaways are a perfect summary: 1) Green is infrastructure; 2) All conservation is local; 3) Important lands in native hands; 4) We need companies in conservation; and 5) New paradigm for progress: National leadership is necessary but not adequate to combat nature loss.

Catalina Island Conservancy

How will Proposition 4’s passage affect your work?

Hertel

Proposition 4 showed that the people of California are committed to investing in climate, water and wildfire efforts across California. This funding is critical as we’re seeing increasing extreme weather driven by climate change. There are significant opportunities to advance nature-based climate solutions, like land conservation and restoration, and Proposition 4 will help California make meaningful investments in these areas.

Final Remarks

Hertel

It’s clear that California’s 30×30 strategy comes with both challenges and opportunities. Securing enough land and funding for conservation, managing public access and balancing ecological needs with human use require careful planning and collaboration. Additionally, aligning private land management with conservation goals is key, as much of California’s land is privately owned. However, the strategy also presents a significant opportunity for California to lead in environmental stewardship, set an example for other states and nations, and contribute to global climate and biodiversity targets.

Catalina Island Conservancy

Thank you, Deputy Secretary Hertel, for your time with us and all you do on behalf of the State of California.