San Benito County’s open space could get a boost of support and funding, thanks to a bill in Sacramento that would create a new conservation authority to protect local nature. Green Foothills has been supporting the bill at the state and local levels.
California Assembly Member Gail Pellerin authored the bill, AB 1548. It creates the Monterey Bay Area Stewardship Authority (MBASA), which would serve San Benito, Santa Cruz, and Monterey counties. MBASA would secure public and private funding, and then allocate that money to support the protection and ongoing stewardship of natural and working lands in the area. This would mean that San Benito would receive more funding for things like new trails and nature preserves so people could go hiking near where they live. The funding could go towards protecting farmland from runaway development or reducing the risk of wildfire on our natural landscapes.
Green Foothills has signed onto letters in support of the bill as it moves through committees in the Assembly. We also spoke in favor at the last meeting of San Benito’s Board of Supervisors. I am pleased to report that the Supervisors voted unanimously to send a letter of support to the Assembly’s Local Government Committee, where feedback from local officials carries significant weight.
Green Foothills celebrates their decision. MBASA would bring much-needed funding and support to this region, with especially meaningful benefits for San Benito County. With fertile soils and an ideal climate, San Benito is home to some of the state’s best farmland. Its open spaces provide essential opportunities for wildlife movement between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Gabilan Range. Investing in these landscapes means more opportunities for people to connect with nature, along with lasting environmental and economic benefits. Protecting and stewarding these lands over the long term strengthens the resilience and health of San Benito environmentally and economically, with benefits that extend far beyond county borders to the broader region and the state as a whole. A regional, collaborative approach is a boon for everyone.
AB 1548 will next go to the Appropriations committee in the California State Assembly. Green Foothills will continue to advocate in favor of it.