The Department of Conservation invests in Californians and California communities with every project we fund, staff, build, and support. Our efforts in building on-the-ground capacity, especially on our natural and working landscapes, means that projects can be implemented by community members and often in rural communities, supporting local economies and our state’s economic adaptation to a climate-altered future.

Our approach to climate resilience via natural and working lands means that we’re focused on connecting California through taking an “outside, in” perspective. This perspective allows us to focus on those foundational resources on which our entire society depends: clean water, clean air, healthy watersheds, a thriving environment, robust local food production, minerals essential for a climate-ready future, and diverse recreation opportunities. Addressing these “outside” values means the population centers have a better understanding of where and how they can grow, and the raw materials at hand to support a sustainable future for all.

Below are just a few examples of how the work we do reflects in the everyday lives of Californians across the state. How do natural and working lands show up in your life? 

Diving Deeper

From supporting a just transition for workers moving out of extraction industries, to cleaning up water and soil resources contaminated for decades in abandoned mine land sites, our programs and investments play a role in California’s nation-leading economy. We are in the process of evaluating each of the projects supporting our Natural and Working Lands Framework for the economic benefit it provides our state. More data will be available here in coming months.

We would love to know more about what you do, how natural and working lands support your economy, and whether we might have a chance to partner up!

Meet Our Economic Action Team

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