Progress Toward 30x30
The 30x30 goal is a grassroots, locally-driven initiative that will require cooperation from all levels of government. It is gaining momentum and support from the local to the national scale.
National Momentum
On January 27, 2021, President Biden issued an executive order pledging to conserve 30% of America’s lands and waters by 2030, a major step forward for conservation efforts in the U.S. The order directed relevant agencies to produce a report recommending steps that the administration can take to accomplish the bold conservation goal. The “America the Beautiful” report was released on May 6, 2021 and outlines a comprehensive and inclusive path towards 30x30. It outlines eight principles that will guide the administration and agencies’ actions going forward:
Read
“America the Beautiful”
Pursuing a collaborative and inclusive approach to conservation
Conserving lands and waters for the benefit of all people
Supporting locally-led and designed conservation efforts
Honoring tribal sovereignty and supporting the priorities of tribal nations
Pursuing approaches that create jobs and support healthy communities
Honoring private property rights and supporting voluntary stewardship efforts by landowners
Using science as a guide
Emphasizing flexibility and adaptive approaches while building on existing tools and strategies
The report directs the U.S. Geological Survey, in coordination with other agencies, to create an American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas to collect baseline information on the current status of conservation in the U.S., an important starting point on the way to 30%.
State & Local Momentum
California became the first state to commit to protecting 30% of its land and water over the next decade, with Governor Gavin Newson signing an executive order in October of 2020.
Nevada followed suit with a 30x30 resolution passed through the legislature in May of 2021.
South Carolina, New York, and Michigan have 30x30 legislation in process.
Hawaii committed in 2016 to effectively manage 30% of its marine environment by 2030.
Maine’s Climate Action Plan, established by the Governor’s office, includes a commitment to 30x30.
Several local county commissions in Colorado and New Mexico have passed resolutions in support of 30x30.
Support for 30x30
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland
Deb Haaland’s historic nomination as Interior Secretary is significant for the 30x30 goal. After a lifetime of organizing communities to stand up for New Mexico families, Congresswoman Deb Haaland was elected as one of the first Native American women to serve in Congress. She led a diverse coalition of House members to introduce the “Thirty by Thirty Resolution to Save Nature” in the House, the companion resolution to former New Mexico Senator Tom Udall’s resolution in the Senate.
Former U.S. Senator Tom Udall, New Mexico
Senator Tom Udall was instrumental in initiating momentum for 30x30 by introducing the Senate resolution to protect 30% of American lands and waters by 2030. Thanks to the diligent efforts of Tom Udall and conservation leaders across the country to protect and defend our nation’s public lands and bedrock environmental laws protecting our air, water, and wildlife, there is reason to hope that when we look back on the 2020s we will see it as a decade in which our leaders stepped up to meet the most pressing challenges of our time, including the dual threats of the climate and nature crises that are affecting our communities everyday.
Hear more from Tom Udall and the origin of the 30x30 effort in the U.S.
Original 30x30 Resolution
Reflecting on the 50th Earth Day
Support from local leaders and communities
Mayors and local leaders across the country have spoken out to support the 30x30 conservation goal. See their support, in addition to locally-led conservation solutions, at 30x30Groundwork.org.
Support from Indigenous communities
Tribal organizations representing over 50 tribes signed onto a letter supporting the Biden administration’s 30x30 policy
“Tribal Nations are essential to the success of the 30x30 policy initiative in the U.S. as they are intrinsically linked, presently and historically, to existing and prospective protected areas. Tribal Nations are the original stewards of these lands and waters and have been the most effective managers and protectors of biodiversity since time immemorial.”
— We, the undersigned Tribal Leaders & Tribal organization leaders…
Additional 30x30 support and leadership
“The natural world produces everything we need, and for free. The entire planet is like a bank account where every living thing makes a different kind of deposit every single day.”
- Dr. Enric Sala, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence
“As we step into a new decade, governments and businesses have an unparalleled opportunity to take bold, decisive action to address the interconnected challenges of climate change and biodiversity.”
- Sally Jewell, Former Interior Secretary
“This is an opportunity not only to protect the cultural landscapes and homelands of indigenous people, but also to reset the conservation model in a way that is inclusive of indigenous voices and traditional knowledge.”
- Kendall Edmo, Blackfeet tribal member & Center for Large Landscape Conservation Associate
“We can’t address climate change without focusing on conservation. Committing to conserving 30 percent of America’s lands and oceans by 2030 is exactly the kind of ambitious strategy we need to protect our wildlife and lands, and tackle this urgent crisis. Setting an aggressive, tangible conservation and climate goal has been a long-standing priority of mine, and I could not have asked for a better partner to advance this legislation. That’s why I am thrilled to be leading this resolution with Senator Udall today.”
- U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, Colorado
“If we want to protect large landscapes and wildlife corridors, if we want to reach the 30x30 goals, we absolutely have to have elected leaders on board. I believe there is a huge opportunity for business to get behind the 30x30 effort… When we go to Capitol Hill, members of both parties are interested in the conversation. They want to know what the business community has to say.”
- Hans Cole, Patagonia Environmental Campaigns and Advocacy Director
Photographs by: Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management (Header, State Momentum California, Quote); Tom Udall, Senator for New Mexico (30x30 Resolution), NOAA (State Momentum Hawaii); Tom Udall, Medium (Reflecting on the 50th Earth Day); National Geographic (Enric Sala); The Nature Conservancy (Sally Jewell); Center for Large Landscape Conservation (Kendall Edmo); Michael Bennet, Senator for Colorado (Michael Bennet); The Conservation Alliance (Hans Cole)