Sharing stories of conserving 30% of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030 (30x30) in action, highlighting funding opportunities, and connecting with each other to inspire new partnerships.

"There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm."

 – Willa Cather

As California continues to adapt to a hotter, drier future, building climate and wildfire resilience means investing in healthy, connected landscapes that can better withstand and recover from change. The California Wildfire Resilience Task Force Action Plan reinforces this vision by advancing coordinated strategies to improve forest health, restore ecosystems, reduce wildfire risk, and strengthen communities across the state. 

This month, you'll find stories of newly protected lands, innovative restoration efforts, tribal stewardship, and collaborative projects that support resilient ecosystems while helping California move toward its goal of conserving 30% of lands and coastal waters by 2030.



Get involved in the movement! The 30x30 Partnership 2026 Summit on September 29 in San Francisco is officially sold out, and we're thrilled by the incredible response from partners across California. We look forward to welcoming attendees this September to connect, share ideas, and help shape the future of conservation. If you weren't able to secure a ticket, we encourage you to join the waitlist in case additional spots become available. If you're planning a California Biodiversity Day event the week of September 5 – 13, be sure to submit it and inspire others to celebrate. Together, these opportunities show that conservation success is built through collaboration, stewardship, and collective action.

California State Parks and Peninsula Open Trust Space (POST) Announce Permanent Conservation of San Gregorio Ranch – Beachgoers along the San Mateo County coast will soon enjoy expanded access at San Gregorio State Beach following POST’s recent acquisition of the 238-acre San Gregorio Ranch. The property offers views of the coastline and provides habitat to native species like the California king snake, California red-legged frog, and more. This is one of the largest expansions to State Parks since Governor Newsom’s April announcement of State Parks Forward, which added three new state parks in the Central Valley while expanding existing state parks by 30,000 acres by 2030. 

Community Conversations

Sharing voices from partners across California committed to the 30x30 goal.

The Mojave Mine Project: How We Help Preserve a Preserve – The Department of Conservation’s (DOC) Mojave Mine Project shows how fieldwork to assess and remediate past land uses supports California’s efforts to protect natural areas and the wildlife that rely on them. By making the preserve’s old mine sites safer, DOC is helping strengthen habitats for species like bats, tortoises, and birds. This directly supports the 30x30 objective to expand safe, healthy spaces for people while protecting the biodiversity that makes our state unique.

Tribal Capacity Building Program – The Strategic Growth Council’s Tribal Capacity Building Program provides funding and technical assistance to California Native American Tribes, enhancing staff capacity to advance their climate- and housing-related work. Activities may include planning, securing funding for, and implementing housing projects, and related efforts to advance climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience. For more information, read the full grant guidelines. Applications are due August 14, 2026.

2026 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund – CDFW is administering a federal grant program from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support the development of New Habitat Conservation Plans and Conservation Benefit Agreements. To learn more, read the full grant guidelines and submit an application by 5 pm on August 14, 2026.

California State Parks Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership – California State Parks is inviting eligible public entities to apply for the federal Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program aimed at expanding access to outdoor recreation in underserved communities. In the eighth round of this competitive National Park Service grant program, approximately $120 million in funding is available nationwide and applicants may request up to $15 million per project. Applications are due by August 28, 2026.

CAL FIRE Tribal-Led Wildfire Resilience and Restoration Projects – This part of CAL FIRE’s Climate and Energy Program supports California Native American tribes in managing ancestral lands, implementing and promoting Traditional Ecological Knowledges in wildfire resilience, and establishing wildfire safety for tribal communities. Eligible applicants include tribal governments and nonprofits. Read the full grant guidelines and apply by September 9, 2026 at 12 pm.

California Biodiversity Network (CBN) News

Bringing together environmental experts and community leaders to conserve California’s biodiversity.

Join the California Biodiversity Network (CBN) – Sign up to receive CBN updates and participate in the equity forum and collaborative roundtables on biodiversity protection, stewardship, environmental education, and scientific inquiry.

Shape the Future of Three New State Parks – The State Parks Forward Initiative is seeking community input about how three new parks coming to the Central Valley can support access, recreation, education, cultural and historic interpretation, and community needs. Share your ideas through this survey by September 4, 2026.

Plan Your California Biodiversity Day Event – California Biodiversity Day is coming up on September 7, 2026! Join CDFW and California State Parks to learn how to organize a Biodiversity Day event. Hear more about the effort as well as successful past events, and come away with helpful toolkits and connections. Register for the info session on August 6, 2026 at 11 am. Already have an event planned? Submit it here.

Save the Date for the California Invasive Species Tours – August 2026! The Invasive Species Council of California and California Invasive Species Advisory Committee invasive species tours throughout the state this summer will bring together elected officials, industry, agencies, UC Cooperative Extension, tribes, NGOs, local partners, and others to create a shared understanding of the California Pest Prevention System. Discussions will include ways to improve the system and to protect our agriculture, natural resources, and unique biodiversity from invasive species. Register here to join a tour and sign up for the CISAC listserv for regular updates.

Celebrate Latino Conservation Week– Connect with nature and honor the Latino community's leadership in conservation during Latino Conservation Week, September 12–20. This annual celebration highlights the important role Latino communities play in protecting our lands, waters, wildlife, and outdoor spaces while inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards. Join a local event, explore the outdoors, and help protect the places we all love. Learn more and find events here.

30x30 Partnership Summit Sold Out! – We're thrilled to share that the 30x30 Partnership 2026 Summit at the California Academy of Sciences on September 29 is officially sold out! Thank you for the incredible enthusiasm from partners across California and beyond. If you weren't able to register, we encourage you to join the waitlist in case additional tickets become available. We'll also offer a virtual livestream of the plenary sessions, with access details shared closer to the event. Centered on the themes Energize, Empower, Evolve, this year's Summit will bring together conservation leaders to recharge our collective commitment, strengthen our capacity to act, and build the partnerships needed to achieve California's 30x30 vision.

Film Clips & Conversation: The Invisible Mammal – Join CNRA Campus Connect on August 29 for an engaging, in-person program featuring film clips and a dynamic conversation about The Invisible Mammal—a documentary exploring bats, biodiversity, and the beauty of the natural world. The session will be moderated by Madeline Drake, CNRA’s Deputy Secretary for Biodiversity and Habitat, and will include special guests Kristin Tieche (filmmaker), Katrina Smith (CDFW), and Corky Quirk (NorCal Bats). Register here.

Outdoors for All Field Convenings – This summer, the California Natural Resources Agency and its partners invite you to participate in one of seven Outdoors for All Field Convenings taking place across the state. Each event will bring together organizations and community leaders dedicated to advancing California’s Outdoors for All Initiative. They will provide an opportunity to celebrate progress, highlight successful strategies, and discuss how we can work together to advance our shared goal of expanding equitable outdoor access for more Californians. Register here.

Find Your Next California State Parks Adventure! – State Parks has just launched a new event calendar and interactive map highlighting fun-filled public events throughout the parks system. The calendar also makes it easier to discover events celebrating the California Natural Resources Agency's Cultural Diversity Months, including upcoming programs for California Biodiversity Week, Latino Heritage Month, and other cultural and stewardship-focused events offered throughout the year.

If you missed it:

Secretary Speaker Series – The World Works Better with Us: The Power of Leaders with Disabilities – Hear from Secretary Crowfoot and leaders from across California for a conversation exploring how perspectives from the disabled community strengthen workplaces, communities, outdoor recreation, and public policy. They reflect on the progress achieved, the impact of recent federal policy changes, and the shared responsibility of building a California where everyone can participate, contribute, and thrive. 

California Beach Resiliency Plan Webinar – The California Beach Resiliency Plan is a statewide effort to understand where our beaches are most vulnerable, what solutions may be possible, and how we can take action to protect them. The plan is being designed for a wide audience, from state policymakers and local planners to everyday beachgoers who care about the future of our coast. Watch the webinar recording here to learn about the plan’s development.

Special Conversation with Author/Illustrator Robin Lee Carlson – Secretary Crowfoot sits down with author Robin Lee Carlson to discuss her book, The Cold Canyon Fire Journals: Green Shoots and Silver Linings in the Ashes, which blends scientific insight and rich illustrations based on Carlson’s five-year study of Cold Canyon after a major wildfire. She invites readers to reconsider wildfire as a force of transformation and to deepen our relationship with the landscapes we depend on. Watch the recording here to learn more.

Connect – Check out our 30x30 California LinkedIn Account

Share Your News! – Do you have a conservation story that you want to highlight?