Resilient Protected Areas and Parks
To address the global climate crisis, nations are committing to protect, restore, and reduce impacts on natural areas. In the United States, an executive order was recently signed promising to protect 30 percent of U.S. land and 30 percent of oceans by 2030. In California, a similar executive order was signed. This “30 by 30” commitment galvanized governments to act quickly to develop nature-based solutions to address climate change that can sequester carbon, reduce pollution, restore wildlife habitat, and benefit communities. There is an opportunity to work on public-private partnership to strengthen management, diversity, equity, and inclusion in coastal protected areas and parks. Simultaneously, this will help states and nations reach 30 by 30 targets, prepare protected areas and parks for climate change, and ensure increased access by priority communities.
Our Role
For this work, Coastal Quest plays the role of project manager and administrator. In collaboration with our partners, we help outline the needs, secure public and private funds, providing nimble support in navigating the complex nature of sub-granting, contracting and/or hiring of employees, and spearheading community engagement and involvement in creating solutions.
Our Work In Protecting The Coast
Coastal Quest administers the Marine Protected Area (MPA) Outreach and Education Small Grants Program. Through this program, we support 12 grantees that are implementing projects along the California coast, many in priority communities, to help increase ocean stewardship, engagement, compliance, and leadership.
Coastal Quest, in partnership with State Parks, launched a local and regional planning and coordination pilot project in the San Diego Coast District of the State Park System to conduct SLR vulnerability assessments and identify adaptation pathways for 9 San Diego Coast District park units.