Climate Adaptation and Resiliency

The Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program is administered by the Wildlife Conservation Board, a state agency within California that supports conservation, restoration, and enhancement of wildlife habitats. The program was established in 2017 through AB109, which amended the Budget Act to allocate local assistance funds from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The program originally received $20 million in funding, reflecting the state’s broader commitment to climate resilience, greenhouse gas reduction, and sustainable management of California’s natural and working lands. The primary purpose of the Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program is to support conservation projects that enhance resilience to projected climate impacts. Funded projects must align with California’s Safeguarding California Plan, a statewide climate adaptation strategy, and also contribute to the carbon sequestration goals outlined in AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act. The program ensures consistency with other statewide policy frameworks, including the California Water Action Plan and the California State Wildlife Action Plan 2015 Update, which prioritize climate preparedness, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable land and water management. The scope of eligible projects is directed toward protecting and restoring ecosystems on natural and working lands in California. Projects should provide tangible climate change adaptation benefits for wildlife, assist land managers in implementing climate resilience practices, and increase carbon sequestration. In addition to their primary goals, projects are encouraged to deliver co-benefits such as social, economic, and environmental improvements that complement California’s climate and conservation priorities. Funding is designed to be flexible but restricted to projects that directly address climate adaptation and resiliency on natural and working lands. Eligible expenditures may include ecological restoration, sustainable land management practices, or other interventions that align with California’s climate adaptation strategy. Applicants are expected to demonstrate how their projects address both climate resilience and carbon sequestration, as well as provide measurable benefits for wildlife and communities. Eligibility for this program extends to entities capable of managing conservation and land-based projects in California. The official information provided does not list specific applicant categories, but given the administering agency and the scope of work, eligibility is likely to include state and local governments, nonprofits, and other organizations with the capacity to manage land conservation and restoration projects. The program is geographically limited to California, and it is not available nationwide. The Wildlife Conservation Board has made information about the application process available through its website. While specific deadlines are not included in the source material, the program is recurring in nature, as WCB regularly releases funding announcements and encourages applicants to subscribe for updates on future opportunities. The contact person for this program is Kurt Malchow, who can be reached by email at Kurt.Malchow@wildlife.ca.gov or by phone at (916) 926-2792. Additional information may be obtained through the Wildlife Conservation Board offices in Sacramento.