The Trump administration rescinded Biden’s 30×30 (America the Beautiful) scheme on day one of his second term in office, but multiple states continue the destructive path to permanently set-aside 30 percent of their lands and waters by 2030.
California
California just released its 2025 Progress Report showing that the state has protected over one million acres of land and coastal waters in just one year. This includes 853,000 acres of land and 191,000 acres of coastal waters.
By June of this year, California preserved 26.1 percent of its lands and 21.9 percent of its coastal waters. Governor Gavin Newsom celebrated this accomplishment stating:
“President Trump and radical Republicans may not see the value of protecting our lands and waters but California does. We’ve conserved millions of acres of lands and coastal waters – adding an area equivalent to Glacier National Park in just the last year – and bolstered our partnerships with tribal nations and local communities. We’re proving that conservation isn’t just good for nature. It’s critical for people, too.”
New Mexico
In 2021, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed Executive Order 2021-052, to protect 30 percent of all New Mexico lands by 2030, with another 20 percent for “climate stabilization” by 2050.
The Governor created a committee that met for the first time in 2022, to review existing programs, funding, and authorities to reach her 30 and 50 percent targets. By 2023, the legislature created the Land of Enchantment (LOE) Legacy Fund and by 2024 the Governor signed the state’s budget authorizing $300 million for the fund.
The Annual Report for the LOE Legacy fund claims New Mexico has preserved approximately 35 percent of its land exceeding their target for 2024.
New York
In 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul signed Assembly Bill A5390B setting a conservation goal for the state “to combat the biodiversity and climate crises.”
Currently, New York has conserved about 29 percent of its lands and waters and has a goal of preserving three million acres by 2030. Interestingly, over 90 land trusts hold about 100,000 acres for the state with a fair market value of $150 million.
New York has issued a draft plan on how to achieve their 30×30 goal.
Honorable Mentions
Montana
Montana might not have a state policy for achieving the international 30×30 goal, but they do have the “Montana Great Outdoors” program with a goal of protecting one million acres.
The Montana Great Outdoors Easement (Phase 1) is a plan by the Trust for Public Land (TPL), Green Diamond Resource Company, the largest timberland owner in Montana, and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) that encompasses 86,000 acres in three counties.
This abuts the Thompson Chain of lakes State Park, the 142,000-acres “Thomas-Fisher Conservation Easement,” as well as the 100,000 acres of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Lost Trail Conservation Area and the 300,000 acres that make up the Kootenai National Forest and Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation lands.
Then there is Phase 2 of the Montana Great Outdoors plan called the Stafford Ferry which encompasses 80,000 acres of habitat conservation leases owned by the state’s Fish and Wildlife Commission.
And late last year, the Montana Land Board approved the protection of another 32,981-acre tract in the Salish and Cabinet mountains. However, this land will be owned by Green Diamond Resource Company and will stay on the tax roll, remain open to the public, and will be protected for future timber production.
Florida
More than 907,412 acres have been acquired under the Florida Forever program. And since 1963, Florida has invested approximately $8.5 billion to conserve more than 4 million acres of land for environmental, recreational and preservation purposes.
ASL has reported on the Florida Forever program that has purchased more than one million acres of land for $3.8 billion. In total, Florida has purchased more than 2.6 million acres and now manages approximately 10 million acres for conservation.
Fortunately, the Florida legislature cut the $100,000,000 annual budget for the Florida Forever program to purchase more land down to $18 million as reported in Liberty Matters last month.
As reported, “similar to what the Biden administration’s 30×30 agenda pushed, Governor DeSantis said: ‘Florida continues to lead the way in land conservation and protecting our natural resources.’ ‘These protections will further protect our natural lands for Florida’s families to enjoy for generations to come.’ ”
