Sonoma Land Trust and 30×30
a global movement
California has joined over 190 countries in setting a goal of conserving 30% of our lands and coastal waters by 2030. Achieving this goal will allow California to protect biodiversity, expand equitable access to nature, and build resilience to climate change. Scientists warn that we must meet the 30×30 goal to avoid the worst impacts of a warming planet.
From the San Pablo baylands, through the Marin Coast-Blue Ridge Critical Linkage, and into the Russian River watershed, Sonoma Land Trust has projects and programs focused on our most threatened species and habitat areas. Sonoma Land Trust is playing a key role in helping the state and the nation achieve the 30×30 goal through purchase of land and stewardship of our 17 nature preserves managed for biodiversity conservation, and most of our conservation easements which were originally identified for their unique biological value.
Our programs are designed to get us to our 30×30 goal of conserving 30% of Sonoma County’s land base—the gateway to larger, connected systems—by 2030. And we have already begun work. With community support and adequate funding, we are confident that we can achieve the 30×30 goals in Sonoma County and conserve this biodiversity hotspot for future generations.
Pathways to 30×30 Report
The state’s third Pathways to 30×30 California’s Annual Progress Report highlights the strides and setbacks in its ambitious goal to conserve 30% of its lands and coastal waters by 2030.
Climate resilience
One key goal of the state’s 30×30 initiative is conserving places that help California achieve carbon neutrality and/or build climate resilience. Sonoma Land Trust is implementing several landscape-scale strategies that address climate resilience in a region of California that has endured an increasingly challenging cycle of wildfires, drought, sea level rise and flooding.
These regional initiatives are examples of the types of programs that should be candidates for programmatic, multi-year funding through 30×30:
Russian River Watershed
- The Russian River Coho Water Resources Partnership is protecting natural diversity and building climate resilience by increasing water reliability for our communities as well as the natural environment, with a focus on preserving endangered keystone salmon.
- The Green Valley Creek Restoration Project is a priority for SLT, Sonoma Water and private landowners to protect critical habitat for Coho salmon recovery and address road flooding.
Russian River. Photo © Stephen JosephRussian River. Photo © Stephen Joseph
San Pablo Baylands
- Through the Resilient SR37 Project, Sonoma Land Trust is partnering with the Sonoma County Transportation Agency to balance transportation needs with protecting and enhancing sensitive marshland habitats. State Route 37 passes directly through the San Pablo Baylands, where SLT is working to protect and restore at least 20,000 acres to tidal marsh wetlands by 2030.
- As part of the Sonoma Creek Baylands Strategy, we plan to protect and restore over 10,000 acres of tidal wetlands.
San Pablo Baylands
Protect the Marin-Coast to Blue Ridge Critical Linkage
- Through strategic land acquisitions in the Sonoma Valley region, SLT has increased the protected land base of a regionally important wildlife corridor that connects large habitat areas on the Marin Coast with the Blue Ridge mountains of Napa and Lake Counties. Current acquisition projects in the corridor include the Sonoma Developmental Center, McCormick Ranch and the Sonoma Mountain Vernal Pools property.
Hillside view of Sonoma Developmental Center
Living with Fire
- Working with local communities and landowners, local governments and other NGO’s, the Sonoma Valley Wildlands Collaborative is restoring fire’s historic ecological role on up to 20,000 acres of Sonoma County’s wildlands, thereby mitigating impacts of climate change, promoting biodiversity, and improving the safety of human communities.
Prescribed burn at the Bouverie Preserve in Glen Ellen
Action alert
Please contact your State Senator or Assemblymember and ask them to support robust funding for the state’s 30×30 initiative. Find your representative HERE.
Sample message
Sonoma County is one of the most beautiful and biologically diverse counties in the United States. Our land, plants, wildlife, and other natural resources are threatened by climate change and other stressors. Conserving our natural areas is essential for protecting biodiversity, building climate resilience, and reducing climate change impacts.
We urge you to support robust funding in the FY 2024-25 state budget for implementation of the state’s 30×30 initiative as outlined in the Pathways to 30×30 document. We ask you to support some specific projects that can help Sonoma County achieve the 30×30 goal, such as Sonoma Land Trust’s Russian River Coho Water Resources Partnership, the Green Valley Creek Restoration Project, the Resilient SR37 Project, the Sonoma Creek Baylands Conservation Strategy, and the Sonoma Valley Wildlands Collaborative,
Sonoma County land managers need stable and dedicated funding for restoration, stewardship, maintenance and operations. With political and financial support, these projects will help the state achieve the ambitious 30×30 goal and conserve our biodiversity hotspot for our community and future generations.
Contact info for state representatives
Senator McGuire: senator.mcguire@senate.ca.gov
Senator Bill Dodd: https://sd03.senate.ca.gov/contact
Assembly member Cecilia Aguiar-Curry: https://a04.asmdc.org/contact
Assembly member Damon Connolly: https://a12.asmdc.org/
Assembly member Jim Wood: https://a02.asmdc.org/contact