Circus performers, porcupines, and 30x30 in San Diego
By Annie Burke
Last week I traveled to San Diego to participate in California’s 30×30 Partnership Summit. TOGETHER Bay Area has been involved with 30×30 since Governor Gavin Newsom signed Executive Order N-82-20 in October 2020, which established the 30×30 initiative. We participated in multiple meetings in the creation of the Pathways to 30×30 report. I’ve attended the previous Partnership Summits in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
And what I saw last week blew my mind. Here’s what I saw:
On Wednesday afternoon at Mission Trails Regional Park (see photo above), I joined about 40 people from around the country and around the world to talk about how different levels of government can advance 30×30. We heard from leaders in Canada, South Africa, and Massachusetts about how they’re building partnerships, launching campaigns, and conserving land acre by acre. Brian O’Donnell from the Campaign For Nature talked about moving at the speed of trust while meeting the urgent needs of the moment. We learned about the High Ambition Coalition (now that’s a name!) and the Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership, both of which are finding new and different ways of connecting and collaborating across borders. And I was blown away by the Indigenous Leadership Initiative and their Guardians program.
- Takeaway: The world is watching what we’re doing in California. What we’re doing here has global impact, and we need to keep going in order to lift up work all across the world.
The movement for 30×30 in California is the biggest it’s been to date, and it’s growing. Over 500 people attended the Summit on Thursday, August 14 at the San Diego Natural History Museum. And there were another 150 people on the waitlist! That’s a lot of people. Not only were there a lot of people, the rooms were buzzing with positivity and collaboration. Attendees were talking, sharing, and laughing together.
- Takeaway: There’s a lot of momentum for 30×30 and it’s growing.
Native Americans and Indigenous perspectives are more involved than ever before. Just a few examples include Dr. Stanley Rodriguez, Kumeyaay Santa Ysabel Band of the Iipay Nation started the day on stage. Deputy Secretary for Tribal Affairs Geneva E.B. Thompson shared the draft Tribal Stewardship Policy in a breakout session. The day ended with the Kumeyaay Bird Singers. And so much more.
- Takeaway: Native American leadership is rising!
This was not a stuffy or boring event. Quite the opposite! There were circus performers! Customized 30×30 chocolate bars! A speaker dressed in an oyster costume! A reception at the San Diego Zoo which included food, drinks, and a visit with porcupines and other amazing animals! It was a lot of fun.
- Takeaway: Joy is seriously important for movement building.
Finally, I’m honored to serve as the co-chair of CA’s 30×30 Partnership Coordination Committee. Over the past four years, we have met monthly to discuss how we can raise awareness and build momentum for 30×30. The PCC consists of 20 amazing people from around the state who bring a range of perspectives on conservation including hunting, mitigation, ranching, outdoor recreation, urban biodiversity, forestry, and so much more. Together we share information, hatch ideas, partner on 30×30 events, and learn about this great state’s work to conserve its lands and waters. And we laugh a lot. It’s a total pleasure to work with the PCC, and even more fun to see most of them in person.
Together, we can achieve much more than we could alone.
Photos of the Natural History Museum atrium, the speakers on stage, and the porcupine were taken by Nurit Katz. The others were taken by Annie Burke.
