Oaks 'n' Folks Newsletter

Sierra Nature Conservancy Could Promote
Woodland Conservation

In fall of 2004, Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 2600, creating the 25 million-acre Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC). The Conservancy's Board, which includes six county supervisors and seven state appointees, held its first meeting in May, 2005. The SNC includes 22 of the state’s 58 counties and its general mission is to "protect the environment and economies of the Sierra Nevada". When most people think of the Sierra Nevada, they probably imagine highelevation emerald lakes, granite cliffs, and alpine trees. But the low-elevation foothills are also an important part of the Sierra Nevada and include some of the state’s most undeveloped – yet also some of the most threatened – oak woodlands. These woodlands are a prominent feature of the landscape and form a nearly continuous zone along the foothills, extending from the Tehachapis in the south to the Siskiyous in the north. It is hoped that the SNC can help protect these critical habitat types, ensuring they are conserved for future generations of Californians.

The funding for the Conservancy is not yet finalized, but will probably include monies from future bond measures, as well as income generated from the sale of a new Sierra Nevada license plate. Several other potential funding mechanisms are also being explored. The SNC is the ninth conservancy established by the State Legislature since 1973. Two of the most successful of these are the Coastal Conservancy and the Santa Monica Conservancy. These other conservancies have made huge contributions to conserving some of the state’s most significant natural resources. Among some of the more significant acquisitions are a recent easement on the Hearst Ranch near Cambria and the purchase of the Ahmonson Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains.

The Coastal Conservancy received approximately $300 million from last year’s bond measure and it is hoped that the SNC will obtain similar funding as a result of future state bonds. It is also hoped that the Sierra Nevada Conservancy may also be able to leverage these funds even further by working with the seventeen land trusts that already exist in the region.

The Sierra Nevada Conservancy aims to promote both natural resource conservation and aid local economies. According to Mike Chrisman, California Resources Agency Secretary, "A perfect balance has been struck with the establishment of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy between resource conservation and economic benefit. People living within the borders of the Sierra Nevada will be able to protect the environment in which they live while influencing the prosperous future of their communities. The tremendous gain for those within the region and beyond is immeasurable."

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Editor: Adina Merenlender