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Wildlife Conservation Board seeks large Prop 4 allocation to advance biodiversity, releases strategic plan draft
Summary
The Wildlife Conservation Board outlined how proposed Prop 4 funds would be used for land protection, restoration and tribal partnerships. The board said recent grants protected 90,000 acres and delivered projects in nearly every county; LAO noted the board's Prop 4 allocation is among the largest single allocations in the bond.
The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) and conservation partners presented the administration's proposed spending for the biodiversity and nature‑based solutions chapter of Proposition 4, telling the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 the funds would advance the state's "30 by 30" conservation goals, restore habitat and support tribal partnerships.
WCB Executive Director Jennifer Norris said the administration's climate bond expenditure plan includes $197,000,000 for biodiversity and nature‑based solutions and described the board's recent grant activity: nearly $900,000,000 in grants allocated over the last two years, $320,000,000 awarded in 2024 for 120 projects protecting 90,000 acres and restoring more than 5,000 acres across multiple ecosystems.
"We will continue to support projects like these and so many more with the proposed $197,000,000 in climate bond investments," Norris said, adding that a draft strategic plan issued March 13 will guide WCB investments and is slated for finalization at the board's August meeting.
Why it matters: The administration and WCB framed the allocation as a major component of the state's nature‑based climate strategy and a tool for meeting biodiversity goals and expanding tribal co‑management and ancestral land return projects. The Legislative Analyst's Office flagged that a single WCB allocation (identified in testimony as $668,000,000) is among the largest single allocations in Proposition 4 and suggested the Legislature may want more detail on how multi‑year funding will be prioritized.
Key details and oversight
- WCB said roughly 60% of recently funded projects delivered direct benefits to disadvantaged or severely disadvantaged communities and that 23 awarded projects involved tribal partnerships, including ancestral land return work and projects that incorporate traditional ecological knowledge.
- Brian Cash, representing the Natural Resources Agency, described conservancies' roles and noted the administration requested $79,900,000 in the budget year for conservancies with a total ask of $320,000,000 across years.
- LAO analyst Sonia Pedic recommended the Legislature consider requiring more detailed reporting or subsequent briefings showing how WCB intends to distribute and prioritize a sizable multi‑year allocation.
Members and public commenters emphasized the need for transparency on allocation timing and encouraged early reporting so the Legislature can monitor expenditures and outcomes.
Where this goes next
WCB said pre‑applications are underway and the board expects it has a backlog of shovel‑ready projects suitable for spending in the first year. The subcommittee asked WCB to share its final strategic plan and suggested the agency provide additional detail to the Legislature on spending priorities for the multi‑year allocation.
