Biodiversity loss, pollution, and the climate crisis are straining our natural systems. To mitigate and prevent additional irreparable loss, efforts to protect 30 percent of our lands, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and marine systems by 2030 (30x30) have been launched.
In response to this call to act,“California has set an ambitious goal to protect 30 percent of California lands and coastal waters by 2030 and advance nature-based solutions to address climate change, equity and species loss. We can only achieve this by holistically examining the depth and breadth of these issues with input from a variety of stakeholders.” - California Secretary for Natural Resources, Wade Crowfoot.
California’s goals have been complemented by President Biden’s executive order, America the Beautiful, that directs the Secretary of the Interior to submit recommendations for conserving 30% of the nation’s lands and waters by 2030.
30x30 efforts will help to improve the integrity of ecosystems, provide safe havens to help wildlife adapt to climate change, and sustain natural systems that store carbon, such as forests, mangroves, seagrasses, wetlands, and grasslands. Realizing 30x30 goals will require extensive public participation to define, identify, and plan in the coming years.
Statewide Initiatives
The California Natural Resources Agency kicked off public participation this summer with a series of workshops. We engaged in the process to ensure a transparent, open process focused on coastal resource and wetland protection, rather than merely focusing on terrestrial land conservation.
• We are members of the Blue Carbon Collaborative advocating to advance blue carbon aquatic ecosystems (i.e. seagrass beds and wetlands) throughout the state. Blue carbon focuses on the sequestration of greenhouse gas emissions in the soils of salt marshes, eelgrass, and aquatic wetlands through complex biogeochemical processes.
Local Initiatives
We promote, defend, and educate the public about federal and state Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) including our local MPAs, wetlands, and coastal resources to protect biodiversity and identify pathways to strengthen 30x30 efforts.
We are members of the Marin Biodiversity Corridor Initiative, a collaboration of organizations and individuals working to raise awareness of the biodiversity crisis within local agencies and with elected representatives, supporting on-the-ground biodiversity projects, gathering data, and promoting public understanding of ecological and cultural connections through outreach and education.
We will continue to advocate for nature-based solutions to mitigate climate crisis impacts and sequester greenhouse gases; protect our invaluable coastal resources; and collaborate with partners to provide local, state, and federal support for these priceless and threatened habitats. We encourage our members to get involved and raise awareness within their communities about these important initiatives.
* This article also appeared in our 2021 print newsletter.
