Katie Hawkins Appointed to California’s 30x30 Committee
Katie Hawkins, Outdoor Alliance’s California Program Manager. Photo credit: Bjorn Bauer.
Katie Hawkins, Outdoor Alliance’s California Program Manager, has been appointed to California’s 30x30 Partnership Coordinating Committee. The committee of 18 includes Tribal members, nonprofit conservation partners, natural resources and state park staff, land trusts, and outreach organizations. The goal of the committee is to help the California Natural Resources Agency foster strong public communication and coordination throughout the state on its 30x30 goals.
As you may remember, California committed to 30x30, the goal to protect 30 percent of its land and water by 2030 to mitigate the effects of climate change. Climate change profoundly affects California, which has experienced increasingly severe wildfire seasons, drought, and heat waves. Goals like 30x30 are one piece of addressing the climate crisis and protecting Californians.
"Outdoor Alliance has been a key partner in advocating for outdoor and conservation values in California and the bold goal to conserve 30 percent of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030. The appointment of Katie Hawkins to the 30×30 Partnership Coordinating Committee (PCC) is a testament to the outdoor recreation community’s deep commitment to this work,” said Dr. Jennifer Norris, Deputy Secretary Biodiversity and Habitat at the California Natural Resources Agency. “We are grateful for Outdoor Alliance’s continued support of 30x30, advocating for equitable outdoor access, and building bridges between outdoor recreation and conservation communities.”
Outdoor Alliance is the only recreation-focused organization on the committee. As a member of the committee, Hawkins will bring the sensibilities of the outdoor recreation space, including a focus on protecting public lands and waters for both climate and communities, to the state’s implementation of its 30x30 goals.
“I am honored to represent the strong advocacy voice of the human-powered outdoor recreation community on the 30×30 Partnership Coordinating Committee. Based in the heart of the Sierra Nevada, I have seen first-hand the impact of climate change in the region. Public lands and waters are key in advancing the 30x30 initiative and we have an opportunity work collaboratively with partners across the state,” said Katie Hawkins, Outdoor Alliance’s California Program Manager.
The partnership kicked off last week with a meeting in Sacramento to connect committee members and other partners committed to helping the state achieve its 30x30 goals.
Outdoor Alliance has been deeply involved in the federal 30x30 work through the Biden administration’s Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful initiative. California’s commitment to 30x30, and its collaborative work to help the state achieve its goals, could be a model for other states.