Because of hen advocates and environmental champions throughout the state such as you, California voters handed Proposition 4, the biggest public funding devoted to local weather resilience within the state’s historical past! This momentous victory will make sure that California has the sources all of us have to struggle the rising threats of local weather change.
With over 58% of the vote (and nonetheless counting), Californians overwhelmingly voted for a cleaner, more healthy, extra vibrant state, via new investments in all kinds of confirmed local weather change options. For these of us within the Audubon motion, this interprets to habitat safety, water conservation, coastal resilience, and restoration—all of that are important to serving to birds, and our communities, thrive properly into the long run.
We’re extremely proud that our Audubon community performed a job in making this historic second a actuality. Audubon California was an early a part of the coalition of conservation and environmental organizations that advocated for this measure to be positioned on the poll. Our community came together and took motion, signing pledges, sharing emails, and fascinating on social media. Audubon chapters all through the state endorsed Prop. 4 and encouraged their members to get out the vote. And, most significantly, Audubon members and supporters turned out to drive this victory on the poll field. As soon as once more, our community made a distinction.
Birds and folks profit
Prop. 4 goes to contribute much-needed funding into key areas for birds in California. Maybe none of those is as pressing because the Salton Sea, the place water diversions have lowered habitat for delicate species akin to Eared Grebes, Ruddy Geese, and California Black Rails, whereas sending clouds of poisonous mud into the air, threatening close by communities. Now this space will see an extra $170 million in funding for restoration and mud management tasks that may create habitat and shield public well being.
Within the Central Valley, the place we’ve got fought for years for water for wildlife refuges, Prop 4 will direct hundreds of thousands of {dollars} for water conservation and habitat restoration. It will have a right away impression for birds that migrate alongside the Pacific Flyway, such because the Northern Pintail and Higher White-Fronted Goose.
Coastal habitat for birds such because the Western Snowy Plover and the California Least Tern has additionally lengthy been a precedence for Audubon California and native Audubon chapters. The billions that might be invested on coastal resilience and habitat will assist guarantee a future for these birds.
Audubon California has lengthy prioritized increasing entry to nature and its advantages for underserved communities, notably via our work at our centers and sanctuaries. We’re proud that Prop 4 features a requirement that no less than 40% of its funding go to lower-income and climate-vulnerable communities. Many of those communities haven’t acquired funding from previous bond efforts, so that is lastly a chance to make an funding in everybody’s future. We all know these advantages not solely assist communities that want it essentially the most, however will create extra habitat, open house, and local weather resilience that may profit birds and different wildlife.
Subsequent Up: Constructing A Higher California
Californians coming collectively round Prop. 4 is a promising signal for the highway forward. We took this essential step collectively, to guard our stunning state’s distinctive landscapes and communities, and to make a greater place for birds, individuals, and our shared future.
Now, the true work begins. We look ahead to the work forward to place this funding to its greatest use to guard birds and the locations they should survive, and to help the communities greatest positioned to deal with the challenges of local weather grow to be the long run. Over the following a number of years, Audubon California will proceed to make sure our science, applications, and your voices are represented within the choices that matter. First up, we’ll be taking a detailed have a look at the state funds that might be launched by Governor Newsom in January and advocating for the investments we all know that birds and folks want.
Be part of us on this journey and stay in the know about future opportunities to take motion for birds and habitats.
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Read the letter from our CEO about how we’ll navigate the impacts of a new administration
“We perceive that this information might really feel daunting, however it additionally strengthens our resolve to struggle for what we all know is correct: the preservation of our pure world for birds—and for all of us…”
