California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference at Controlled Thermal Resources as lithium extraction takes place behind him in Calipatria, Calif., on Monday, March 20, 2023.
Sacramento, California – California has added more than one million acres of land and coastal waters to its conservation portfolio over the past year, bringing the state within striking distance of its ambitious goal to conserve 30% of its lands and waters by 2030.
The update comes via the state’s 2025 30×30 Progress Report, released Monday by Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration. According to the report, 26.1% of California’s land and 21.9% of its coastal waters are now under long-term protection, reflecting a mix of state investment, tribal partnerships, and local community involvement. The progress is notable not only for its pace—more than 850,000 acres of land and 191,000 acres of ocean were added in just one year—but also for its timing, as climate change, biodiversity loss, and access to public land remain deeply politicized issues nationwide.
The announcement draws a contrast with actions taken at the federal level. While former President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers continue to advocate for cuts to public land protections and the budgets of agencies like the National Park Service, California is increasing its investments. The state has now allocated more than $1.3 billion toward 30×30 goals, on top of more than $1 billion to expand park access—particularly in underserved communities.
In some ways, the scale of progress is difficult to overstate. The land and water conserved over the past year alone is equivalent in size to Glacier National Park. And while such comparisons may sound symbolic, the implications are practical: the new protections include wildlife corridors, wetlands, forests, and coastal ecosystems—all of which play a role in wildfire prevention, biodiversity preservation, and equitable access to green space.
One of the most significant developments in the report is the expansion of marine conservation areas, the first since California’s 30×30 strategy launched in 2020. These additions came after broad public input, tribal consultation, and scientific review. California’s Marine Protected Area Network has also now been added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Green List, recognizing it as a global model for marine biodiversity.
Tribal partnerships also remain a growing focus of California’s conservation strategy. In February, the Karuk Tribe became the first to enter a formal agreement with the state to lead cultural burning practices, marking a reversal of 150 years of state policy. These burns—long suppressed by law—are now seen as a way to restore forest health and reduce wildfire risk through traditional ecological knowledge.
California’s strategy does not rest solely on conservation for conservation’s sake. By embedding land and water stewardship in broader climate resilience planning and public investment, the state appears to be building not just parks—but a long-term framework for how public lands serve both people and planet. Whether it can stay on track through 2030—and whether other states will follow suit—remains to be seen.
