California Council of Land Trusts

Congratulations to Project Advancement Grantee California Rangeland Trust — we are delighted to support your critical partnerships and conservation efforts! "California Rangeland Trust is honored and excited to have been awarded this grant from the California Council of Land Trusts. We look forward to conserving and supporting the stewardship efforts on California’s working rangelands that are home to thousands of species of plants and wildlife.” — Robin Hanson, Programs Manager Generous support for this grant program is provided by the Wildlife Conservation Board. Read the full press release and see all 23 grantee organizations at https://bit.ly/4ffSvP5.

🎇 Happy New Year! Our team at CCLT is welcoming the new year with a renewed resolve to support our strong network of land trusts in advocating for and working to provide clean water, healthy food, and access to parks and other natural lands across California. We know our work of supporting effective land and water conservation is more important than ever, and we're ready to hit the ground running in 2025. P.S. Register today for the 2025 California Land & Water Conservation Conference happening March 31 – April 2 at the stunning Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite National Park. https://bit.ly/3NJe4fN

We are thrilled to award a Project Advancement Grant to Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy to support land acquisitions for the creation of wildlife corridors in Los Angeles. 🦌 🦃 "CCLT funding will help us secure critical wildlife corridor properties to provide passage between open spaces in the densely populated suburbs. With thousands of properties to investigate, adding a biologist on staff will make a huge difference!" — Barbara Goto, Director of Operations Generous support for this grant program is provided by the Wildlife Conservation Board. Read the full press release and see all 23 grantee organizations at https://bit.ly/4ffSvP5.

We are delighted to award a Project Advancement grant to the Land Trust of Napa County to support their Acquisition Program capacity. “The Land Trust of Napa County is thankful for the Project Advancement Grant award, from the California Council of Land Trusts and the Wildlife Conservation Board. This funding will help us build out our capacity needs to advance our county-wide conservation goals with private landowners AND build new partnerships for a local, cultural conservation impact.” — Lena Pollastro, Conservation Director Generous support for this grant program is provided by the Wildlife Conservation Board. Read the full press release and see all 23 grantee organizations at https://bit.ly/4ffSvP5.

We are honored to provide a Project Advancement Grant to Sequoia Riverlands Trust to return ancestral lands to the yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe. "Sequoia Riverlands Trust is greatly honored to receive this project advancement grant from the California Council of Land Trusts. With this funding, we will be able to engage in vitally important work in Tribal land rematriation, partnering with yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe. This grant increases our capacity for regionally led conservation, while expanding Tribal stewardship in the ecologically important Carrizo Plain." — Camdilla Wirth, Conservation Biologist Generous support for this grant program is provided by the Wildlife Conservation Board. Read the full press release and see all 23 grantee organizations at https://bit.ly/4ffSvP5.

The California Council of Land Trusts (CCLT) is thrilled to announce nearly $2M in funding to 23 organizations as part of the Project Advancement Grants for projects that advance the goals of the State of California described in Pathways to 30x30 (30x30) and the Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy (NWLCSS). CCLT received 50 applications, with requests of almost $5 million for a maximum of $2 million in reimbursable grants for this first round of funding. Grants have been awarded to: 🌲 40 Acre Conservation League 🌲 American River Conservancy 🌲 Anderson Valley Land Trust 🌲 Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy 🌲 Big Sur Land Trust 🌲 California Rangeland Trust 🌲 Eastern Sierra Land Trust 🌲 Gaviota Coast Conservancy 🌲 Lake County Land Trust 🌲 Land Trust of Napa County 🌲 Land Trust of Santa Cruz County 🌲 Mendocino Land Trust 🌲 MOTHER LODE LAND TRUST 🌲 Native American Land Conservancy 🌲 Ojai Valley Land Conservancy 🌲 Oswit Land Trust 🌲 Placer Land Trust 🌲 Sanctuary Forest 🌲 Sempervirens Fund 🌲 Sequoia Riverlands Trust 🌲 Siskiyou Land Trust 🌲 Tataviam Land Conservancy “CCLT’s Project Advancement program is providing direct solutions to remove barriers to the advancement and acceleration of conservation, restoration and equity in California. Congratulations to all of the recipients.” — Bridget Fithian, CCLT Board Chair Generous support for this grant program is provided by the Wildlife Conservation Board. Read the full press release: https://bit.ly/4ffSvP5

Funding opportunity! The California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) is seeking applications that restore and enhance habitat throughout the state. Projects that increase connectivity and support justice communities are encouraged. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4eLtwTF

Great news! CCLT Land Trust Member Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) has purchased and permanently protected 1,340-acre Pescadero Ranch in southeastern Santa Cruz County! “Pescadero Ranch is a biological and cultural treasure. Its location at the southern terminus of the Santa Cruz Mountains provides core habitat and connections for wildlife moving between mountain ranges to the east and south, which is vital to the biodiversity and climate resilience of our region,” said Walter T. Moore, president of POST. Read more: https://bit.ly/4icKD3I

We are delighted to welcome Caroline Godkin as the new Executive Director of the California Council of Land Trusts (CCLT)! Thanks to the incredible momentum created by our team of highly invested working board members, staff, and consultants, CCLT is well-positioned to launch into its next growth cycle under Caroline's thoughtful leadership. Caroline’s successful career in policy and leadership in California State government, coupled with her experience building a successful nonprofit from the ground up and her passion for conservation, make her ideally suited for this role. “I am thrilled to be joining CCLT at this exciting time for the organization,” says Caroline. “I am deeply committed to the people and natural resources of California. I am looking forward to supporting CCLT’s members and the wider conservation community in delivering the State’s ambitious goals.” Read the full press release: https://bit.ly/3DaBpVk

We are proud to support Sequoia Riverlands Trust with a Capacity Building Grant to support their strategic growth in the San Joaquin Valley and Carrizo Plain. “Sequoia Riverlands Trust is deeply honored to receive this capacity grant from the California Council of Land Trusts. With this funding, we will forge new pathways for strategic growth and deepen our partnerships with Tribal communities across the San Joaquin Valley and Carrizo Plain. This grant strengthens our ability to contribute to California’s ambitious conservation goals and to enhance the resilience of our shared lands for generations to come.” — Logan Robertson Huecker, Executive Director Read the full grants announcement: https://bit.ly/4hxNWBU Generous support for this grant program was provided by the California Department of Conservation through the Climate Smart Lands Management Program.