Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District Integrated Approach to Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

Land Conservation Mission Diverse, multi-sector: agriculture, open space, biodiversity, water, recreation, local economy 84,000 acres to date Significant influence on climate change mitigation & adaptation –Mitigation: Sequestration via avoided conversion GHGs: bikeways/alternative transport routes GHGs: Reduction in ex-urban development (VMT/water use) –Adaptation: Habitat connectivity, population resiliency, dispersal corridors Protection of coastal ecosystems & riparian corridors

An Integrated Approach Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation Planning and execution context: multi-objective/multiple benefits Ecosystem services (climate, water, biodiversity, agriculture) Viable human communities and ecosystems are not mutually exclusive County-wide focus, watersheds/sub-regions = demonstration Relies on high quality/high resolution, foundational data Economies of scope and scale Successful examples: North Coast Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (lots of work, lots of funding)

Context for Successful Integration all nine cities and the County adopted the boldest community greenhouse gas reduction target in the nation – 25% below 1990 levels by Regional Climate Protection Authority (RCPA) – unique in nation Sonoma County Community Climate Action Plan, Climate Protection Campaign District, Water Agency, Regional Parks, RCPA – collaborating on integrated watershed/land conservation framework Very sophisticated NGOs and community foundation (PRBO, Sonoma Land Trust, Pepperwood, Laguna Foundation, Sonoma Ecology Center, NBCAI) Part of the Bay Area (connections to academia, foundations, BAOSC) Invested and knowledgeable community

Watershed Partnership/Ecosystem Services Initiative County agencies, cities, NGOs, RCDs, landowners Demonstration watersheds/test beds Integration of multiple objectives: –Climate change mitigation and adaptation –Biodiversity protection/enhancement –Connectivity of urban streams/trails with watershed lands –Recreation –Agricultural viability (bio-char, bio-energy, C markets) –Integration of land use planning –Economic benefits (articulation, quantification, funding tools) –“green infrastructure”

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation Watershed Conservation & Enhancement adaptation: –dispersal corridors –climatic and habitat diversity –flood attenuation –water supply reliability –resiliency: ecosystems and downstream communities mitigation –sequestration via protection –sequestration via afforestation –forest management: avoidance of catastrophic wildfire

Foundational Data/Analyses High resolution/quality Supports multiple objectives Ground-based LiDar –Fluvial-geomorphic analyses –Biomass County-wide vegetation map –Biodiversity protection & enhancement –Climate change resiliency –County-wide assessment of sequestration potential Monitoring and integration of new research Integrate new criteria for land acquisition & stewardship based upon climate change vulnerability

enhanced connections in support of an integrated program define and map relationship between climate change mitigation/adaptation and other land conservation activities – where are the connections the strongest? outline opportunities for more efficiency, economies of scope and scale connect past accomplishments with future strategies define role of District in relation to partners

quantify in support of an integrated program evaluate the impact of program to date (GHGs, adaptation, ecosystem services, local economic development) identify gaps in current program strategies quantify economies of scope and scale derived from integration modeling of climate benefits: acquisition & stewardship demonstration projects & evaluation thereof (adaptive) economic, regulatory, legislative evaluation: –nexus of land conservation with AB 32/SB 375 –novel funding strategies (Prop 218) –ecosystem services (carbon markets/offsets)

articulate in support of an integrated program communicate the connection between land conservation and community objectives/benefits (climate change, water supply reliability, flood control, biodiversity, recreation, public health……) Articulate the economic efficiencies associated with an integrated land conservation program – economies of scope and scale, bang for the buck