California, United States

California’s 30×30 initiative is a leading example of how regional strategies can be designed to align local priorities with global biodiversity goals. This case study focuses on the process undertaken to develop California’s 30×30 strategy, emphasizing the importance of including diverse perspectives across the state and creating transparent mechanisms for evaluating progress.

We explore the participatory process California undertook from 2021-2022 to develop its Pathways to 30×30 document, which sets clear goals, defines key action strategies, and ensures accountability through public data platforms and regular reporting. As of 2025, California has conserved 26.1% of its land and 21.9% of its coastal waters, demonstrating early progress toward the goal.

This document highlights how California’s strategy advances global biodiversity objectives at a subnational scale and provides guidance for other regions on creating strategies that (1) reflect local needs, (2) ensure ongoing evaluation, and (3) foster strong partnerships across sectors and regions.

The full case study in English is available below. The Spanish and French versions will be available soon: