California Launches '30 by 30' Conservation Plan

Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot discusses the state's ambitious goal to protect 30% of its lands and waters by 2030.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 10:38pm

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A close-up painting of a single monarch butterfly perched on a weathered wooden fence post, the butterfly's vibrant orange and black wings contrasting with the warm, hazy light and deep shadows surrounding it, conveying a sense of tranquility and the fragility of nature.California's '30 by 30' conservation plan seeks to protect the state's diverse natural habitats, including critical monarch butterfly overwintering sites.Santa Cruz Today

California has launched its '30 by 30' plan in 2020, aiming to conserve 30 percent of the state's lands and coastal waters by 2030. Wade Crowfoot, secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, recently discussed the purpose of this initiative and how it affects farmland, housing development, and water infrastructure construction.

Why it matters

As the fourth-largest economy in the world, California has one of the greatest diversities of animals, plants, and other wildlife, and a population of nearly 40 million. The '30 by 30' plan is a voluntary effort to find more places to conserve and protect this remarkable natural diversity, while also buffering against environmental threats like drought and wildfire.

The details

The '30 by 30' plan includes both public and private lands, with opportunities for farmers and ranchers to participate by establishing conservation easements. However, the plan must balance conservation efforts with the state's growing need for affordable housing development, which Crowfoot says will be focused on existing communities rather than remote natural areas. The state also faces challenges in upgrading its aging water infrastructure to ensure future water security amid longer droughts and more intense floods.

  • The '30 by 30' plan was launched by California Governor Gavin Newsom via executive order in October 2020.
  • California has experienced two 'millennial droughts' in recent years, which scientists previously believed could only happen once every 1,000 years.

The players

Wade Crowfoot

Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, which oversees the state's conservation and environmental protection efforts.

Gavin Newsom

Governor of California, who created the '30 by 30' conservation plan via executive order in 2020.

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What they’re saying

“Californians love the outdoors, so we're always looking for opportunities to conserve, protect more nature so that future generations can enjoy it.”

— Wade Crowfoot, Secretary, California Natural Resources Agency

“We are trying to make mitigation simpler and faster, both so that we can facilitate housing development and clean energy development, and also so that we can improve the quality of that mitigation.”

— Wade Crowfoot, Secretary, California Natural Resources Agency

What’s next

The state plans to continue building partnerships with private landowners and seeking funding to establish more conservation easements and protected areas as part of the '30 by 30' initiative.

The takeaway

California's ambitious '30 by 30' conservation plan aims to balance the state's need to protect its remarkable natural diversity with the realities of housing development, water infrastructure, and a changing climate. The voluntary, collaborative approach seeks to find creative solutions that allow Californians and nature to thrive together.