Tuned in to the Land

California’s working rangelands are more than open space. They provide vital wildlife habitat, store carbon, protect watersheds, build wildfire resilience, and sustain the ranching families and rural communities that depend on them. As development pressures grow and the state works toward its goal of conserving 30% of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030, recognizing the conservation value of private working lands is more important than ever.

In this episode, Rangeland Trust CEO Michael Delbar sits down with Wade Crowfoot, Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, to reflect on California’s conservation efforts and the future of the state’s working rangelands. Together, they explore the essential role of ranchers in protecting California’s natural resources, what it will take to turn statewide conservation goals into lasting outcomes, and how funding, partnerships, and programs can help keep rangelands intact, productive, and economically viable for generations to come.