Environmental Advocacy in Sonoma County
A voice for nature
By championing strong policies, securing public funding, and mobilizing community support, we speak up for the land through collaborative environmental advocacy.
Standing up for conservation
We are committed to environmental advocacy that gives nature a voice in local, state, and federal legislative decision-making. Nature is a necessity, not a luxury, and actions big and small help protect wildlife corridors, support climate resilience initiatives, foster youth leadership in conservation, and promote equal access to open spaces.
Sonoma Land Trust and 30×30
A cornerstone of Sonoma Land Trust’s environmental advocacy is our work on behalf of 30×30, a global initiative which includes over 190 countries and became a California state mandate in 2020. The goal of 30×30 is to conserve 30% of our lands and coastal waters by 2030.
Achieving this goal will allow us to protect biodiversity, expand access to nature for all, 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. Sonoma County has reached 23% of its 30% goal, according to a 2025 Bay Area Greenprint report.
Turning Advocacy into Action
Highway 37 Redesign
Highway 37 is a vital North Bay route increasingly threatened by sea-level rise. Sonoma Land Trust and our partners in the SR 37–Baylands Group are advancing a redesign that works with nature—restoring tidal wetlands, protecting habitat, and creating a resilient corridor for both people and wildlife.
Sonoma Developmental Center
Sonoma Land Trust supported protection and studied wildlife movement in the areas surrounding The Sonoma Developmental Center (SCD), situated in the heart of the Sonoma Valley Wildlife Corridor. We’ve served as an advisor, advocate, and funding partner to ensure habitat connectivity and safeguard the site’s ecological integrity. In the last year alone, 650 acres of the open lands were transferred to Jack London State Park.
Prop 4
In 2024, Sonoma Land Trust worked directly with California State Senate Pro Tempore Mike Maguire, and joined a broad coalition, to help pass Proposition 4, a historic $10 billion bond to fund climate resilience, clean water, wildfire prevention, and parks. By informing our community, highlighting local projects that would benefit, and mobilizing support, we helped secure vital resources for protecting biodiversity, expanding public access, and advancing California’s 30×30 goals.
Measure AA
In partnership with the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority, Sonoma Land Trust secured Measure AA funding and identified Camp 4 Ranch as one of the most critical tidal wetland restoration opportunities in the Bay Area. Just five years later, the first acquisition funded by the measure became a reality, protecting more than 1,000 acres of diked former baylands and moving us closer to restoring over 10,000 acres of wetlands.
Take Action Now
urge California legislators to prioritize natural resources in state budget
From now until June 30, the state legislature is holding hearings and considering constituent requests on budget priorities. Voice your support for budget allocations that support our climate resilience and 30×30 goals.
register to vote in the next election
Check your status and update your registration if you’ve moved or changed your name. Let your voice count—it’s a simple step that helps shape the future of this community and the lands we all cherish.
Partners in Environmental Advocacy
Sonoma Land Trust is committed to bringing nature’s voice to the decision table, but we can’t do it alone. We are non-partisan, dedicated to coalition building, and forging state-wide partnerships that advance our conservation movement as a whole. We are proud of our many achievements thus far, including a coordinated effort to successfully pass Prop 4 in 2024.
Power in Nature
A state-wide coalition that includes over 400 member groups and is dedicated to advancing our 30×30 initiative.
The California Council of Land Trusts
CCLT works to conserve California’s extraordinary land and water resources through a strong network of land trusts.
The Land Trust Alliance
The Land Trust Alliance empowers and mobilizes land trusts in communities across America to conserve land—and connect people to the land—for the benefit of all.
Together Bay Area
A coalition of organizations working collaboratively to advance climate resilience, social equity, and land conservation across the San Francisco Bay Area.