LOCAL & REGION

Funding available for farm land conservation

SACRAMENTO — The California Department of Conservation and the Strategic Growth Council have announced funding is available for the fourth consecutive year for projects that protect agricultural land and reduce greenhouse gases.

According to the Conservation Department, cities, counties, land trusts and other governmental and non-profit entities may apply for grants that will help limit sprawl, strengthen the agricultural economy and help the state meet carbon reduction goals through easements to help keep current agricultural lands in production.

Grants are made available through California’s Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program and are funded through a portion of cap-and-trade auction proceeds dedicated to greenhouse gas reduction.

The amount available for fiscal year 2017-2018 has yet to be determined, but totaled nearly $34 million last year. Pre-proposals, or concept proposals, for easement projects must be submitted by May 22 in order for projects to be considered for funding.

The Commerce Department said government applicants interested in applying for “strategy” grants are encouraged to submit pre-proposals as well.

Complete applications for both easement and strategy grants are due Aug. 1.

“The SALC approach is unique in that it defends the agricultural economy and natural beauty of our state while reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions that threaten our future,” SGC Executive Director Randall Winston said. “We are thrilled to kick off this round of the SALC program, and are looking forward to the fresh crop of applications that we’ll receive this year, providing new opportunities to protect agricultural land around the state.”

The Department of Conservation’s Division of Land Resource Protection administers the program on behalf of the SGC and contributes expertise to the SALC Program by developing the guidelines used to evaluate proposals, managing an interagency team to review the proposals and making recommendations for funding.

After grants are awarded, DLRP works with applicants to complete successfully projects protecting California’s valuable agricultural resources.

“Funding for agricultural conservation easements prevents increases in greenhouse gas emissions that would result if farms and ranches were converted to more intensive land uses, such as urban and suburban development,” said Kathryn Lyddan, Division Director of DLRP.

The SALC Program is part of a larger effort by the SGC to help reduce emissions by supporting higher-density development and low-emission transportation alternatives such as public transit usage and bike trails.

The SGC prioritizes funding for projects that benefit disadvantaged communities.

Launched by the SGC in 2015, the SALC Program has dedicated $76 million to agricultural conservation easements and strategy grants in its first three years.

The funding is being used to conserve 52 properties, protecting 81,000 acres of agricultural land in perpetuity, and to develop eight regional strategies to conserve agricultural land.

For additional information or for grant application materials, please contact the SALC Program at (916) 324-0850 or www.conservation.ca.gov/dlrp/SALCP/Pages/ Apply-for-Funding.aspx

Funding for agricultural conservation easements prevents increases in greenhouse gas emissions that would result if farms and ranches were converted to more intensive land uses, such as urban and suburban development. Kathryn Lyddan, Division Director of DLRP