Governor Gavin Newsom announced $44 million in funding for 15 projects across 11 counties aimed at tribal stewardship, salmon recovery, and desert protection, advancing California's goal to conserve 30% of its lands and coastal waters by 2030.
These investments, made in partnership with the Legislature, are part of the global 30x30 initiative and emphasize strengthening tribal partnerships, recognizing Indigenous communities as original stewards of California's natural resources. Governor Newsom said, "California doesn’t back away from protecting what makes this state so extraordinary. These investments are about standing with tribes and communities, restoring the ecosystems we all depend on, and protecting the natural heritage of generations to come. When we act with purpose and invest in the health of our lands and wildlife, we deliver real, lasting results."
Tribal Affairs Secretary Christina Snider-Ashtari highlighted the importance of these awards, stating, "Whether it is restoring Native practices to the lands, improving salmon runs and safeguarding eel populations, or expanding protections for desert wildlife, these awards represent Californians' shared commitment to stewarding the abundant biodiversity of the place we all call home." California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot added that these investments protect vital natural places and are a significant step toward the 30x30 goal.
The funding, granted through the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB), includes $32 million from voter-approved 2024 Climate Bond dollars. Notable projects include a grant to the Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance for the purchase of the 80-acre Politsuwi property in Lake County, which will serve as an Indigenous-led ecological restoration and training center. An $11.5 million grant to The Wildlands Conservancy will expand the Beaver Valley Headwaters Preserve in Siskiyou County, protecting salmon and steelhead runs and providing public access.
Other key initiatives include a $2.4 million grant to California Trout for stream and floodplain habitat restoration in the Shasta Valley, a $4 million grant to the Tahoe Resource Conservation District for meadow restoration along the Upper Truckee River, and a $7.5 million grant to the Mojave Desert Land Trust to acquire 1,093 acres near Yucca Grove in San Bernardino County, protecting critical desert tortoise habitat. These efforts build on the administration's ongoing work to restore ecosystems, support tribal co-management of lands, and return ancestral lands to California Native American tribes, with over $200 million awarded to fund the return of more than 100,000 acres.