From commitment to action: State’s 30×30 Goal Comes to Life in San Mateo County

This year marks the halfway point in “30x30,” California’s ambitious commitment to conserve 30% of our lands and waters by the year 2030. Here in San Mateo County, progress is increasingly visible in restored habitat, vibrant open spaces and landscapes better prepared for a changing climate.

California formally committed to 30×30 in 2020, when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order elevating the role of natural and working lands in addressing climate change and protecting biodiversity. With this order, he aligned the state early with a growing global effort now embraced by nearly every country in the world. As of June 2025, over 26% of California’s land and nearly 22% of its coastal waters were under long term conservation and care. Reaching these targets is about protecting land in ways that endure — through thoughtful conservation, restoration and long-term stewardship.

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