By Mary Scott

On January 27, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order (EO) 14008, Tacking the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad. EO 14008 calls for the conservation of at least 30 percent of America’s lands and waters by 2030 and is also referred to as the 30×30 program.

The below is language from EO 14008 regarding the 30×30 initiative: 

It is the policy of my Administration to put a new generation of Americans to work conserving our public lands and waters. The Federal Government must protect America’s natural treasures, increase reforestation, improve access to recreation, and increase resilience to wildfires and storms, while creating well-paying union jobs for more Americans, including more opportunities for women and people of color in occupations where they are underrepresented. America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners have an important role to play in combating the climate crisis and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, by sequestering carbon in soils, grasses, trees, and other vegetation and sourcing sustainable bioproducts and fuels. Coastal communities have an essential role to play in mitigating climate change and strengthening resilience by protecting and restoring coastal ecosystems, such as wetlands, seagrasses, coral and oyster reefs, and mangrove and kelp forests, to protect vulnerable coastlines, sequester carbon, and support biodiversity and fisheries. 

On May 6, 2021, the National Climate Task Force released the long-anticipated Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful report, which outlines a ten-year recommendation for conserving and restoring America’s lands and waters.

Special attention was given to agricultural producers and foresters throughout the report. The Biden Administration’s understanding and appreciation of these entities will be vital for achieving 30×30.

By supporting and accounting for existing and future conservation of public lands and waters, as well as collaborative and voluntary conservation efforts on working lands, tribal lands, and state, local and private lands, the U.S. is well-positioned to achieve a 30 percent goal over the next decade.

Eight key principles were outlined to achieve 30×30:

1. Pursue a Collaborative and Inclusive Approach to Conservation
2. Conserve America’s Lands and Waters for the Benefits of all People
3. Support Locally Led and Locally Designated Conservation Efforts
4. Honor Tribal Sovereignty and Support the Priorities of the Tribal Nations
5. Pursue Conservation and Restoration Approaches that Create Jobs and Support Healthy Communities
6. Honor Private Property Rights and Support the Voluntary Stewardship Efforts of Private Landowners and Fishers
7. Use Science as a Guide
8. Build on Existing Tools and Strategies with an Emphasis on Flexibility and Adaptive Approaches

Strong collaboration to enhance conservation efforts on both public and private lands is noted throughout the document. Other key points include:

• A cross-country approach for supporting locally-led and designed conservation efforts. The report notes that conservation should focus on lands all across the country, rather than focus on public lands which are primarily in the western states.
• While both public and private lands are discussed through the report, it is noted that working with private landowners and respecting private property rights will be instrumental in the 30×30 program.

This report recommends that the U.S. Government take two complementary steps to measure and report upon conservation progress in the United States: the creation of an American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas that collects baseline information on the amount and types of lands and waters that are being managed for conservation and restoration purposes, and the publication of annual America the Beautiful updates on the health of nature in America and on the Federal Government’s efforts to support locally-led conservation and restoration efforts.

NACD looks forward to continuing to engage in these efforts, both informally and hopefully through a formal process that will allow NACD’s members to engage directly as well. NACD will also ensure internal entities like the NACD’s public lands RPG and NRPC/Legislative Committees are utilized on future comments. NACD’s statement on the American the Beautiful report may be viewed here.

Mary Scott is NACD’s Natural Resource Policy Specialist. Contact her with questions at mary-scott[at]nacdnet.org.