California protects over one million acres towards conservation goal

California has announced the conservation of over one million acres of land and coastal waters in the past year, marking a significant advancement toward its goal of conserving 30% of its lands and waters by 2030. Governor Gavin Newsom highlighted this achievement, noting that the conserved area is comparable to the size of Glacier National Park.

This announcement comes amid concerns about federal public lands management under the Trump administration. The Newsom administration recently expressed concerns to the U.S. Department of the Interior regarding proposed cuts affecting National Parks and other federal lands. In contrast, California is focused on expanding outdoor access and investing in community-driven conservation efforts.

The state's 2025 30×30 Progress Report indicates that as of June 2025, California has conserved 26.1% of its lands and 21.9% of its coastal waters. "President Trump and radical Republicans may not see the value of protecting our lands and waters but California does," stated Governor Newsom.

Since launching the 30×30 initiative in 2020, California has made substantial investments in conservation, supported by legislation such as Senate Bill 337 passed in 2023. Over the past year alone, an additional 853,000 acres of land and 191,000 acres of coastal waters have been protected.

California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot acknowledged the collective efforts contributing to this progress: “This progress report reflects years of hard work by thousands of Californians.” The state has seen significant achievements in marine conservation areas following tribal consultations and scientific guidance.

Key highlights from the report include record funding levels for conservation projects, increased partnerships with tribal nations for ancestral land returns, co-management agreements, and initiatives like cultural burning to restore forests. Proposition 4's passage provides $10 billion for climate resilience efforts.

Additionally, California's Marine Protected Area Network received international recognition as a gold standard for marine conservation from the International Union for Conservation of Nature Green List.

Over three years, more than $1.3 billion in state funding has supported these initiatives alongside historic investments exceeding $1 billion to enhance park access across diverse communities.