The goal of the Restore and Regenerate California project is to assist with the implementation of Governor Newsom’s 2020 Executive Order N-82-20. This EO directed the state to incorporate nature-based climate solutions and scale climate-smart land management. Phase I (August 2021-Dec 2022) dedicated two part-time experts to support this work. A farmer liaison who centered on the needs of small-scale land managers, including farmers, ranchers, and foresters, was located in our partner organization, Fibershed. A second climate coordinator position was housed within the California Natural Resources Agency. These roles provided technical expertise, program design, cross-agency coordination, and science communications surrounding the agency’s policies and programs related to climate change and natural and working lands, as requested and directed by the State of California. Phase II (March 2023-April 2024) will focus on further integrating natural and working lands within the State of California’s climate policy framework, developing regional climate-smart agricultural economies in California, fostering public-private partnerships, and connecting state and philanthropic funding to small, informal and underserved communities of land stewards and managers.

This project was made possible by sponsorship from 11th Hour and the Marciano Family Foundation.