California Farmland Trust Benefits from Round Seven SALC Funding Awards

With the support of the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC), California Farmland Trust (CFT) is proud to be awarded funding for two agricultural conservation easement projects.

The SALC Program is a collaboration between the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) and Department of Conservation (DOC). SALC is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment.

“Through the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program, the State invests in conservation projects promoting infill development, reduce climate emissions, and safeguard California’s natural resources for generations to come,” said Lynn von Koch-Liebert, executive director of California Strategic Growth Council. “Immense congratulations to the awardees, landowners, farmers, ranchers, and local leaders that are committed to stewarding California’s environmental and ecological resources.”

The projects proposed by CFT were two of the 19 projects chosen for funding under the seventh annual round of funding through the SALC Program, which will award more than $65 million for easements throughout California and the development of regional agricultural land conservation strategies.

“As funding for agricultural conservation easements becomes more difficult to obtain, the support received from the SALC program to fund these two projects is instrumental in ensuring our valuable landscapes can be permanently protected for years to come,” said Charlotte Mitchell, executive director of CFT. “We are excited to move these projects through the pipeline, thanks to the Strategic Growth Council and Department of Conservation.”

In previous SALC funding rounds, CFT was awarded grants for eight projects, helping protect 1,350 acres in three counties, with one easement currently in process, that will protect 474 acres. The two prospective easements awarded funding in round seven will account for 53 acres protected in San Joaquin County and 59 acres protected in Merced County.