Grant Program Background. The Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC), a component of the Strategic Growth Council’s (Council) Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program, supports California’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goals by making strategic investments to protect agricultural lands from conversion to more GHG intensive uses. Protecting critical agricultural lands from conversion to urban or rural residential development promotes smart growth within existing jurisdictions, ensures open space remains available, and supports a healthy agricultural economy and resulting food security. A healthy and resilient agricultural sector is becoming increasingly important in meeting the challenges occurring and anticipated as a result of climate change. All projects funded by GGRF monies must reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions. The principal goal of SALC is to further the purposes of AB 32 by supporting infill development and avoiding increases in the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the conversion of California’s irreplaceable agricultural land and resources to nonagricultural uses, particularly low-density residential development. The SALC efforts to protect agricultural lands complement the AHSC efforts to promote infill development. In this way, AHSC and SALC work together to reduce GHGs in the aggregate over time. The Council identified the California Department of Conservation (Department) in conjunction with the Natural Resources Agency (Agency) to administer SALC. The Strategic Growth Council approved the roles of the Department and the Agency at its July 10, 2014 meeting. In addition, SALC has been developed in consultation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Appears in 5 contracts
Samples: Grant Agreement, – Acquisition Grant Agreement, – Acquisition Grant Agreement
