30×30 Partnership Summit 2024
Recap provided by Pam Heatherington
The 2024 30×30 Partnership Summit, held in early October at the California Natural Resources Agency headquarters in Sacramento, gathered key stakeholders, including conservation leaders, policymakers, tribal representatives, and advocates, to discuss California’s progress towards conserving 30% of its lands and coastal waters by 2030. This effort aligns with the global 30×30 initiative to combat climate change, protect biodiversity, and enhance equitable access to nature.
The theme of this year’s Summit: Inspire, Innovate, and Integrate.
Inspire yourselves and each other to reach California’s 30×30 goals in the next five years.
Innovate with creative colleagues about how we can work together in new ways.
Integrate new information and ways of knowing into our work.
A highlight of the event was U.S. Senator Alex Padilla’s keynote speech, where he emphasized California’s leadership in conservation. He mentioned recent expansions of national monuments, such as San Gabriel Mountains and Berryessa Snow Mountain, and emphasized the importance of science-led, collaborative efforts to protect natural resources for future generations. The summit also showcased the state’s latest Pathways to 30×30 report, which outlines progress and future strategies. California is now just six million acres of land and half a million acres of coastal waters away from its 30×30 goals(Senator Alex Padilla)(30×30 California).
The event also featured discussions on innovative conservation practices and partnerships, including those with Native American tribes, aimed at managing lands to both reduce carbon emissions and support biodiversity (Resources.ca.gov).
The last panel at the 2024 30×30 Partnership Summit focused on fostering innovation and collaboration for California’s conservation efforts, aligning with the summit’s themes: Inspire, Innovate, and Integrate. This session featured discussions on how various stakeholders—policymakers, community leaders, and environmental groups—are driving the state’s efforts to protect 30% of its lands and waters by 2030. The panel underscored the importance of integrating traditional knowledge, advancing policy frameworks, and leveraging technology The Partnership Summit was a refreshing reminder of why we participate. There is power in nature.