Press release from Sustainable Conservation:
Sustainable Conservation is proud to announce a new report, “Accelerating Restoration in the Sacramento Valley and Beyond: Progress and Next Steps to Cutting Green Tape in California.” This report provides a comprehensive assessment of the current regulatory landscape and progress made with efficient permitting pathways, informed by interviews with over 80 individuals from 39 organizations. Based on the interviewee’s insights, the report offers actionable recommendations to further ensure a functional and efficient habitat restoration permitting system in California. The recommendations aim to empower restoration practitioners and agency staff to implement projects at the pace and scale necessary to protect our vital ecosystems in a changing climate.
A once-in-a-generation opportunity for landscape-scale restoration has emerged in California, spurred by an unprecedented influx of proposed restoration projects and public funding. This white paper evaluates the current regulatory landscape and provides strategic recommendations to maximize the benefits of existing accelerated permitting pathways, advance coordinated permitting efforts, expand successful programs, and fill the regulatory and institutional gaps that hinder ecosystem restoration. It also highlights the need for strategic leadership to develop dedicated restoration teams within agencies and providing these teams with guidance and resources to support their work.
Why Permitting Matters
Smart, coordinated permitting for environmentally beneficial restoration is essential. Sustainable Conservation believes restoration permitting does not have to be a bottleneck, rather, it can serve as a critical lever to unlock large-scale ecological benefits while maintaining vital environmental protections. Efficient permitting processes expedite project completion, reduce administrative burdens, and multiply the positive impact of every dollar spent on restoration.
Our climate resilience relies on healthy ecosystems. The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta has lost 96.8% of its tidal wetlands, California’s nine largest wildfires occurred in the past seven years, and salmon fisheries remain closed for a second year. Efficient permitting catalyzes restoration efforts to enhance water resources, bolster fire resilience, and support both ecosystems and communities. By making permitting more accessible and predictable, we can transform potential into action and revitalize ecosystems more quickly and effectively.
Key Findings and Recommendations
The white paper synthesizes insights from over 80 individuals across 39 organizations, including environmental consulting firms, nonprofits, regulators, California Tribes, private landowners, agriculture, and networks/associations. Key findings include:
- Accelerated Permitting Pathways are Considered Essential: Seventy-five percent of project proponents emphasized the importance of existing restoration-specific accelerated permitting pathways, especially when coordinated across multiple regulatory agencies.
- Strategic Leadership Empowers Staff to Innovate: Leadership plays a critical role in guiding agency staff toward innovative approaches. The success of initiatives like California’s Cutting Green Tape (CGT) and the NOAA Restoration Center’s Community-based Restoration Program exemplify the transformative impact of proactive, goal-oriented leadership.
- Restoration-Specific Regulatory Programs Improve Efficiency: Programs that blend a clear restoration mission with the strategic use of accelerated permitting pathways are most effective, providing a model for expanding these approaches to other agencies.
- Inconsistencies and Gaps Remain in Implementation and Permitting: Inconsistent application of regulatory requirements and limited awareness of efficient permitting tools continue to pose challenges, calling for expanded training and proactive use of these tools.
Need for Increased Agency Capacity and Project Proponent Engagement: Capacity challenges within agencies often lead to delays in processing applications and reduced technical support for project implementors, highlighting the urgent need for increased resources and training as demands grow with new state plans and funding opportunities.
For the complete list of recommendations and next steps for implementation, please refer to the full white paper, now available on Sustainable Conservation’s website.
Testimonials
“Visionary environmental restoration is underway across California to protect our ecosystems and communities from climate change impacts,” said Wade Crowfoot, California Natural Resources Secretary. “We’re in a race against time to complete restoration projects as climate change accelerates. While our ‘Cutting Green Tape’ efforts to date have helped accelerate restoration work, more is clearly needed. I welcome this white paper from Sustainable Conservation and its work to help us move further, faster and at greater scale to restore our lands and waters. We need to continue to make progress on this front, as there’s simply no time to waste.”
“California stands at the forefront of a pivotal moment for ecological restoration,” said Ashley Boren, Sustainable Conservation CEO. “This report lays out practical steps to help restorationists leverage permitting efficiency to capitalize on upcoming funding opportunities and protect our ecosystems and communities efficiently and safely.”
“Efficient permitting is key to advancing restoration at the scale California needs,” said Erika Lovejoy, Senior Program Director, Accelerating Restoration, Sustainable Conservation. “We hope this report will effectively highlight our collective progress and the gaps that remain, offering a clear path to help agencies and practitioners move projects forward faster while safeguarding our environment.”
About Sustainable Conservation: For over 30 years, Sustainable Conservation has united people across business, agriculture, conservation and government to steward California’s vital natural resources. Our programs promote practical solutions that enhance environmental and economic sustainability, focusing on water, land, and air quality. For more information, visit www.suscon.org and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
