{"id":94982,"date":"2026-04-22T10:24:34","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T17:24:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/?p=94982"},"modified":"2026-04-23T09:22:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T16:22:17","slug":"state-parks-forward","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/news\/state-parks-forward\/","title":{"rendered":"Sempervirens Fund Celebrates Plan to Expand California\u2019s State Parks by 30,000 Acres"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/h3>\n

Support Big Basin’s Future<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Aerial

Aerial view of Big Basin State Park’s NoraBella property<\/a>, the Gateway to Big Basin, a 153-acre redwood forest along Highway 236, added to the park in February 2026.\u00a0
Photo: Jordan Plotsky<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

MOUNTAIN VIEW<\/strong> \u2014 California is leading on climate, on resilience, and on access to nature for all, and we applaud the Governor\u2019s announcement of State Parks Forward<\/a>, a bold new target to expand California\u2019s state park system by 30,000 acres by 2030, extending the ambition of the state\u2019s powerful 30×30 commitment, and recognizing state parks as one of the most powerful tools we have to meet it. This vision builds on the historic announcement of three new state parks and affirms that protecting more land for people and nature is essential to California\u2019s future.<\/p>\n

\u201cCalifornia\u2019s state parks are our promise in place: land protected for climate resilience, wildlife, and people, today and for generations,\u201d said Sara Barth, Executive Director of Sempervirens Fund<\/strong>. \u201cExpanding California\u2019s state parks by 30,000 acres by 2030 is how we turn 30×30 from a goal into a legacy. Sempervirens Fund is ready to support that goal in the Santa Cruz Mountains.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since 1900, Sempervirens Fund has protected more than 36,000 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains, most of which are now state park lands, including most of Big Basin Redwoods State Parks, which was expanded in February 2026 by 153 acres<\/a>.<\/p>\n

California\u2019s state parks are spectacular destinations, and they also form a connected network of public spaces that safeguard biodiversity, store carbon, protect watersheds, and reduce wildfire risk, while offering millions of Californians places to learn, heal, and connect with the landscapes that define our state. As climate impacts accelerate, as temperatures rise, and drought and flooding become more extreme, these lands increasingly serve as a first line of defense: buffering communities from extreme heat, flooding, and fire, while anchoring long term resilience across entire regions.<\/p>\n

This moment also reflects years of sustained progress, turning ambition into action. Recent legislation<\/a> has shown that California can move faster to expand and restore parks without compromising transparency, accountability, or environmental values. In particular, we celebrate Santa Cruz Assemblymember Gail Pellerin\u2019s leadership on legislation (AB 679) that cut unnecessary \u201cgreen tape,\u201d streamlining land acquisition for critical state parks in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Paired with AB 630 (Allen – El Segundo), both laws sustain public trust with rigorous oversight. That success demonstrates what\u2019s possible when lawmakers align policy with urgency and on the ground reality.<\/p>\n

We thank Governor Gavin Newsom, Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot, State Parks Director Armando Quintero, and the members of the Legislature who have consistently championed state parks as climate infrastructure, community infrastructure, and generational investments. Their leadership has helped ensure that California\u2019s parks are both preserved and strengthened to meet the challenges ahead.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the state looks to 2030, and to a new administration, expanding our state park system is one of the clearest, most unifying ways to carry California\u2019s 30×30 vision forward,\u201d said Barth<\/strong>. \u201cConserving nature at scale, accelerating climate action, and ensuring every Californian has access to the outdoors sends a powerful signal that California intends to keep leading, by protecting the places that protect us.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

California State Parks and Sempervirens Fund announce the permanent addition of the 153-acre NoraBella property to expand Big Basin State Park.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":92755,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"node_moved":["mwpkzuhsb79l"],"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-94982","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSempervirens Fund Celebrates Plan to Expand California\u2019s State Parks by 30,000 Acres - Sempervirens Fund<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Why Sempervirens Fund supports State Parks Forward and expansion of California\u2019s state parks by 30,000 acres by 2030.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/news\/state-parks-forward\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sempervirens Fund Celebrates Plan to Expand California\u2019s State Parks by 30,000 Acres - 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