SB 1386, as introduced, Wolk. Resource conservation: working and natural lands.
The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. The act requires all state agencies to consider and implement strategies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
This bill would declare it to be the policy of the state that the protection and management of natural and working lands, as defined, are a key strategy in meeting the state’s greenhouse gas reduction goals, and would require all relevant state agencies, departments, boards, and commissions to consider this policy when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, expenditures, and grant criteria relating to the protection and management of natural and working lands.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 9001.5 is added to the Public Resources
2Code, to read:
(a) It is the policy of the state that the protection and
4management of natural and working lands are a key strategy in
P2 1meeting the state’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. The
2protection and management of those lands can result in the removal
3of carbon from the atmosphere and the sequestration of carbon in,
4above, and below the ground.
5(b) The protection and management of natural and working
6lands provides multiple public benefits, including, but not limited
7to, assisting with adaptation to the impacts of climate change,
8improving water quality and quantity, flood protection, ensuring
9healthy fish and wildlife populations, and providing recreational
10and economic benefits.
11(c) All relevant state agencies, including the Natural Resources
12Agency, the Department of Food and Agriculture, and the
13California Environmental Protection Agency, and their respective
14departments, boards, and commissions, shall consider the policy
15set forth in subdivision (a) when revising, adopting, or establishing
16policies, regulations, expenditures, and grant criteria relating to
17the protection and management of natural and working lands.
18(d) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the
19following meanings:
20(1) “Working lands” means lands used for farming, grazing, or,
21forest production purposes.
22(2) “Natural lands” means lands consisting of wetlands,
23watersheds, wildlands, or wildlife habitat, or used for recreational
24purposes such as parks, trails, greenbelts, and other open-space
25
land.
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