Resources Legacy Fund

Great news! 👀 I'm proud to share that we've conserved over 25% of California's lands! 🙌🏽 Today Gavin Newsom announced this major progress 📈 to reach our 30x30 ("30 by 30") commitment to protect 30% of our state's lands and coastal waters by 2030. More here in this great LA Times story this morning: https://lnkd.in/gzMiAJRN The increase in 30x30 acreage over the last year includes: ✅ Ancestral land returns to California Native American tribes. ✅ Acquisitions of land for conservation purposes. ✅ Voluntary conservation easements placed on private lands. ✅ Enhanced protection of federally managed lands (thank you President Biden and Vice-President Harris!). ✅ Adding existing conserved areas that meet 30x30 criteria but were not previously verified in the statewide database of protected areas. ✅ Including lands that have recently upgraded protections that meet 30x30 criteria. Check out more about our progress in our colorful 30x30 update here: https://lnkd.in/giF-ejib Big shout out to everyone who is making 30x30 a reality. Proud of this progress, with much more work ahead Our movement shows how people and nature can thrive together! 🧒🏽 🦋 👵🏿 🌺 👶🏼

Members of the RLF team touring former and existing dam sites outside of Missoula, MT. Through our Open Rivers Fund we've been proud to support the removal of nearly 100 outdated dams and barriers in rivers, improving both ecosystems and local communities. #OpenRiversFund

BREAKING NEWS: After an effort that has spanned four decades, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is proud to congratulate the Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC) and their partners, including the Sierra Club Santa Lucia Chapter and Surfrider Foundation San Luis Obispo Chapter, on the pending designation of Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (CHNMS)! The Chumash Sanctuary designation process is a testament to the collaboration and dedication of Indigenous, national, state, and community advocates and to the vision seeded in the nomination led by NCTC Chair Violet Sage Walker and the late Chief Fred Collins. Our Monterey Bay chapter, along with 100,000 citizens who submitted online public comments, has supported the originally proposed boundary of 7,600 miles for full protection. We also hope that the sanctuary will receive full funding upon designation so its essential work can begin right away. As the sixth national marine sanctuary on the West Coast and the first to prioritize equitable, collaborative management, this sanctuary marks a key advancement in meaningful engagement with Tribal governments and Indigenous leaders to protect biodiversity and address the impacts of climate change. Welcome to the national marine sanctuary family! #Chumashsanctuary #nationalmarinesanctuary #sanctuarydesignation #marineprotection (Image from Surfrider Foundation)

Amazing opportunity yesterday to meet with leaders from the Pit River Tribe, Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, and Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe as they were here in Sacramento successfully advocating for the stewardship and #conservation of their sacred lands.  #TribalAffairs

Los Angeles area friends - hope to see you this Wednesday from 5-7 pm at LA State Historic Park!

🎉Happy Birthday to Violet Sage Walker, an incredible leader, advocate, and steward of the ocean and indigenous culture! 🌊✨ As the Vice Chairwoman of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council and the driving force behind the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary campaign, Violet’s dedication to preserving our oceans and cultural heritage is inspiring. Your lifelong love for the water and commitment to environmental advocacy is a true testament to the power of passion and community. May this year bring you even more opportunities to shine, explore, and protect the lands and seas that mean so much to you and your ancestors. The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary campaign and NCTC teams wish you a beautiful day filled with joy, love, and gratitude for all the amazing work you do! 🌿🐚 #IndigenousLeadership #OceanAdvocate #DesignateChumash

Exciting news to share! Today we released the 2024 Pathways to 30x30 Annual Progress Report (link at bottom). California is now at 25.2% of lands and 16.2% of coastal waters conserved. This past year an additional 861,000 acres were counted towards 30x30. Those lands came from new acquisitions, easements, restoration and improved protections; as well as from improvements in data for lands that previously could not be verified as counting. Just a few of the major milestones this year: * First-ever ancestral land return with $100m in state funding supporting the return of roughly 40,000 acres to indigenous communities. * Expansion of TWO national monuments - San Gabriel Mountains and Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monuments - adding 120,000 acres to 30x30. * The rollout of $1.3b in Nature-Based Funding allocated by Governor Newsom and the Legislature. * The recent milestone in the designation of the proposed Chumash National Marine Sanctuary which is moving closer to formal designation and could be considered under 30x30. Congratulations to the many people, organizations, agencies and leaders who made all this progress possible. We are not done. With 6 years until the conclusion of this program we have 4.8 million acres remaining to conserve on land and 500,000 acres of coastal waters. But working together we can get there! Progress Report: https://lnkd.in/gkv_ES6g Governor's Announcement: https://lnkd.in/gmYzQCQG #30x30CA #biodiversity #CABiodiversityDay

Congrats to everyone who has worked so hard to get California this far – 25% of its lands and 16% of coastal waters protected! RLF is proud to have supported the state in its efforts to adopt its groundbreaking plan to protect 30% of its lands and waters by 2030. #30x30 https://lnkd.in/gubBpS_y

Such a huge and important step! Congratulations to all who have helped get here!

Important news: With the 8/28 removal of the cofferdam at Iron Gate Dam, the Klamath River now flows freely again! This monumental achievement would not have been possible without the leadership of the Tribes across the Klamath Basin, as well as the dedication of countless individuals, organizations, and agencies who have worked to reach this historic milestone. RLF is thrilled to have been a part of this effort. #OpenRiversFund This outcome is a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished through collaboration and a shared commitment to restoring and preserving our natural resources. Let’s continue to work together toward a sustainable and healthy Klamath River and Basin.