Today, the Biden-Harris administration released a report recommending a 10-year, locally led campaign to conserve and restore the nation’s lands, waters and oceans. The report launches the America the Beautiful Campaign and lays out principles for meeting the national goal of conserving 30 percent of America’s lands, waters and oceans by 2030. In response, the Surfrider Foundation’s CEO, Dr. Chad Nelsen, issued the following statement:
“The Surfrider Foundation applauds the Biden administration’s commitment to conserve at least 30% of U.S. lands and the ocean by 2030. This bold vision is necessary to help slow the loss of nature, reduce the impacts of climate change and ensure that all Americans have access to the natural world. More specifically, it will help protect our nation’s marine and coastal ecosystems and an ocean recreation and tourism economy that is valued at nearly $130 billion annually.
Surfrider is also encouraged to see the administration’s emphasis on locally driven conservation with a strong focus on equity and public access. As a grassroots organization with decades of experience in advancing ocean habitat protections, we understand that achieving this ambitious goal will require the positive engagement of communities, stakeholders, scientists, government agencies and the public. Such collaboration is critical to ensure that conservation areas achieve desired goals and are implemented in an equitable and just manner.
The Surfrider Foundation looks forward to supporting progress on the 30x30 goal by engaging our grassroots network and other coastal recreation users in federal, state, regional and local efforts to designate ocean and coastal conservation areas.”
To learn more about Surfrider’s support for 30x30 click here
To read Surfrider's 30x30 comment letter to the Biden administration click here
