Sacramento, CA – The California Council of Land Trusts (CCLT) will grant nearly $2M in funding to 23 organizations as part of the Project Advancement Grants for projects that advance the goals of the State of California described in Pathways to 30×30 (30×30) and the Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy (NWLCSS).
Additionally, CCLT aims to increase the capacity of land trusts and build the diversity of partners engaged by land trusts through specific support for partnerships with Tribes, Native-led organizations, and through projects benefiting underserved communities.
CCLT received 50 applications, with requests of almost $5 million for a maximum of $2 million in reimbursable grants for this first round of funding. Funding for the Project Advancement Grant Program has been provided by the California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB). Grants have been awarded to:
- Geography: Placer County
- Project Name: Tahoe National Park Capacity Project
- Geography: El Dorado
- Project Name: Advancing Land Conservation in the Upper American River and Upper Cosumnes River Watersheds
American River Conservancy (as lead applicant for working group)
- Geography: Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, Amador, Yuba, Sutter, Yolo, Nevada
- Project Name: Sacramento Region Working Lands and Open Space Group
- Geography: Mendocino County
- Project Name: Indian Creek Restoration Plan
Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy
- Geography: Los Angeles
- Project Name: Acceleration of land acquisition for Los Angeles Wildlife Corridors
- Geography: Monterey
- Project Name: OCEN and BSLT Hiss Parcel Land Back Project
- Geography: San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno
- Project Name: Enhancing Conservation Efforts Through Partnerships & Due Diligence
- Geography: Mono
- Project Name: Wetlands for the Future: Tribal Partnership in Protecting Critical Habitats to Achieve California’s 30×30 Goals
- Geography: Santa Barbara
- Project Name: Building a Conservation Future: Appraisals for Strategic Coastal Land Acquisition
- Geography: Lake County
- Project Name: Partnering with Lake County Pomo Tribes to Advance Natural Land Stewardship and Conservation
- Geography: Napa
- Project Name: Acquisition Program capacity
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
- Geography: Santa Cruz County
- Project Name: Advancing Strategic Land Protection and Cultural Monitoring in Santa Cruz County
- Geography: Mendocino
- Project Name: Bell Point Land Return Acquisition and Coastal Trail Planning
- Geography: Amador, Alpine, Calaveras, El Dorado, Tuolumne
- Project Name: Donated Conservation Easement Funding Program
Native American Land Conservancy
- Geography: San Bernardino County
- Project Name: State School Lands Back Project
Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (OVLC)
- Geography: Ventura
- Project Name: OVLC & Water: Capacity Building for Engagement & Leadership
- Geography: Riverside
- Project Name: North Peak, acquisition of 958 acres in Western Riverside County
- Geography: Placer County
- Project Name: Placer LandBack and Equitable Access
- Geography: Humboldt County
- Project Name: Upper Mattole Big Finley Tribal Protected Area
- Geography: Santa Cruz County
- Project Name: Camp Krem Conservation Easement: protecting redwoods and enabling outdoor experiences for the developmentally disabled
- Geography: San Luis Obispo
- Project Name: Returning Ancestral Lands to the yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe
- Geography: Siskiyou
- Project Name: Siskiyou Migration Corridor and Habitat Acquisition Project Development
- Geography: Los Angeles
- Project Name: Tribal Land Return Project Advancement
“Land Trusts are key to achieving the state’s biodiversity goals and WCB is proud to provide funding for CCLT and their partners,” said Jennifer Norris, executive director for WCB. “These small grants will provide much needed resources to help accelerate projects that advance biodiversity protection, climate resiliency, and equitable access to nature.”
Bridget Fithian, CCLT Board Chair adds, “CCLT’s Project Advancement program is providing direct solutions to remove barriers to the advancement and acceleration of conservation, restoration and equity in California. Congratulations to all of the recipients.”
Grants were awarded in three categories, 1) Transaction, Project Development, and Permitting, 2) Organizational Capacity Building, and 3) Building and Sustaining Partnerships.