Climate Smart Grants

 

With the help of Climate Smart Land Management funding, San Diego County is able to help a large variety of local partners improve climate-friendly farming practices, gain access to new resources, and adapt planting practices to improve agricultural output.

In 2024, San Diego County used Climate Smart grant money to identify locations for urban farmers to scale up production.  They met with two local tribal partners to develop and provide guidance for Native Plant Nurseries, which work to demonstrate the value of native plants and ensure they are available if needed for regional restoration efforts. The county is also investigating locations for a potential “crop swap" program that aims to decrease agricultural water usage by incentivizing growers to convert from avocado trees to more economically and environmentally sustainable crop types and growing methods. Additionally, San Diego County redistributed some funding to local Research Conservation Districts, San Diego State University, and partner organization Farm Link.

Moving forward, the county hopes to further strengthen its agricultural partnerships in the community, research and incentivize carbon sequestration practices with local farmers, and develop a resource hub for local farmers looking to improve their land with climate smart practices.​

 

The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) is using Climate Smart Land Management funding to conduct research and to identify opportunities and barriers that impact historically underserved agricultural producers and communities. 

In June 2024, UC ANR gave sub-grants to Community Alliance for Family Farmers, the California Association of Research Conservation Districts, and the California Farm Bureau. These subgrantees are working to conduct outreach to underserved producers and gather their input on securing agricultural land in California; efforts so far have included developing outreach material and translating surveys into three different languages, hosting listening sessions with different underserved communities, developing partnerships with Southern California Farm Bureau, and holding discussions about how to diversify land management in California.

In an effort to increase land management diversification especially in Southern California, UC ANR met with over 190 organizations, agencies, farmers, and local governments to solicit input and assess needs. Through education, outreach, and the engagement of historically underrepresented communities, UC ANR hopes to empower local communities to improve the scale and success of nature-based conservation. In the coming months, UC ANR plans to provide technical support, work with local partners, and identify additional subgrantees to strengthen the next generation of land managers, food systems, and ecosystem services.

Visit the University of California Agriculture a​nd Natural Resources ​to Learn More​

 

The California Council of Land Trusts (CCLT)​ is using Climate Smart Land Management funding to expand their capacity to serve local and regional land trust organizations throughout California, with the ultimate mission of meeting the state’s natural and working lands conservation and stewardship goals. 

CCLT’s primary goal with their grant funding is to redistribute it to land trusts across the state, helping these organizations to purchase and protect land and watersheds. Most of these grants involve acquiring and restoring land for agricultural, cultural, and habitat purposes. With funding from the Department of Conservation and the Water Conservation Board, CCLT distributed $1.1 million to 11 subgrantees in November 2024. These grantees have varying projects and priorities, and these funds will allow them to implement their goals, improve partnerships, and better steward and conserve their land. 

Now that funds have been fully distributed to subgrantees, CCLT is focusing on offering one-on-one technical assistance and group learning opportunities to land trusts throughout the state. Bridget Fithian, Board Chair of CCLT said, “The land trust community is poised to conserve another 3.5 million acres of forests, chaparral, wetlands, grasslands, deserts, coastal habitats, and working lands by 2030. With the State partnership represented by this grant, we are much closer to making this goal a reality.”  Visit the CA Council of Land Trusts to Learn More 

About the Subgrantees: 

1. Amah Mutsun Land Trust, Santa Cruz County: This subgrant provides resources to the Amah Mutsun Land Trust to steward Amah Mutsun Ancestral Lands.  Lea​rn More​

​2. Feather River Land Trust, Plumas County​: This subgrant helps the organization scale up their conservation efforts of climate-resilient landscapes in the Upper Feather River Watershed.  Learn ​More​

3. Kings River Conservancy, Fresno County: This funding helps Kings River Conservancy staff acquire and restore the farm acres and natural fauna of a 400-acre site known as Peck Island. Additionally, the Conservancy plans to expand their education program.  Learn More

4. Lake County Land Trust, Lake County: The land trust will work with the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians (BVBPI) to discuss co-managing and preserving their ancestral lands, begin to establish relationships with other Lake County tribes, and to initiate conversations with owners of potential future preserves.  Lea​rn More​

5. Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, Los Angeles County: With this subgrant, the land trust ensures their ability to create, steward, and advocate for green spaces in Los Angeles’ underserved communities for years to come. Learn More

6. Native American Land Conservancy, Imperial County: This subgrant funds a project known as the Kw’tsán 30×30 Land Back Capacity Building Project. As part of this project, the Conservancy is pursuing the purchase of 10,000 acres of state school lands for conservation and tribal uses by the Quechan Tribe.  Learn More​

7. Northern California Regional Land Trust, Butte County: This funding focuses on an initiative known as Advancing Conservation through High Impact Effort in Voluntary Establishment of Land Protections. The land trust will hire and train a dedicated acquisitions manager and increase their Conservation Director’s available time to serve local landowners and process applications for 24,000 acres of high priority properties in the county for conservation efforts and funding.  Learn More

8. San Benito Agricultural Land Trust, San Benito County: With this subgrant, the land trust will fund professional development of staff and the Executive Director to improve efficiency in serving the land trust’s area. They will also fund a development program and help serve Spanish-speaking growers in the area by funding bilingual work at the San Benito Research Conservation District.  Learn ​More

9. Sequoia Riverlands Trust, Tulare and San Luis Obispo Counties: This subgrant funds the land trust’s work in the San Joaquin Valley and Carrizo Plain. Through tribal partnerships and increased public awareness, Sequoia Riverlands Trust will plan for a future in which lands in the southern San Joaquin Valley and the Carrizo Plain are put to their best use, including agriculture, conserved land, and restored areas.  Learn M​ore

10. Sierra Foothill Conservancy, Mariposa County: This subgrant funds the Mariposa Tribal Partnership and Resilience Initiative Project, which is a partnership with the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation. The project seeks to expand the Miwuk Nation’s Indigenous-led stewardship, including cultural burning, Indigenous workforce development, land-back projects, tribal placemaking, interpretation, public outreach, and increased community resilience against natural disasters.  Learn More

​11. Tamien Nation Land Conservancy, Santa Clara County: This funding will allow the Conservancy to acquire their first conservation property, consisting of 235 acres of undeveloped rural land in the East Bay hills. The Conservancy will also use this grant to hire an Executive Assistant to support conservation efforts and community engagement and improve their ability to foster partnerships and ensure the long-term ecological and cultural integrity of this land for generations to come. ​​​​​​​​​ Learn More​​​​​​​​​
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