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Statement in support of the California Legislature investing GGRF funds in nature-based solutions, including redwood forest restoration and resilience, in the FY2026 state budget
San Francisco, Calif. (August 27, 2025)—Save the Redwoods League urges Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature to prioritize investing Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) dollars into nature-based solutions that support redwood forest health, reduce high-intensity wildfires and expand equitable outdoor access for all.
This is a unique opportunity to invest in our vital redwood forests, a key part of California’s nature-based toolbox to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon on natural and working lands. Protections for our shared public lands, including our remaining redwood forests, will be impacted by how GGRF funds are allocated.
“The GGRF is one of the state’s most crucial tools to promote climate resilience, using revenue collected from industrial polluters to improve the health of our communities and iconic public lands,” says Ben Friedman, director of government affairs and public funding at Save the Redwoods League. “California’s budget must prioritize investment in nature-based solutions that safeguard redwood ecosystems for the sake of present and future generations of Californians.”
Funded by California’s cap-and-trade program, the GGRF helps pay for a wide range of projects that improve the health of our communities and the resilience of our parks and public lands. These funds flow through state agencies to support forest restoration and defense against extreme wildfires and drought across the redwood range. Healthy redwood forests help preserve the quality of our air and drinking water, store substantial amounts of carbon, reduce the severity of wildfires, bolster resilience against extreme weather events, protect critical wildlife habitat, provide iconic park experiences for millions and support the communities most affected by climate change. Limiting critical GGRF funding would threaten redwood forests and the benefits they provide at a time when we need them most.
Save the Redwoods League calls upon state lawmakers to stand with scientists, conservationists and community leaders advocating for natural and working lands by investing in redwood forest health.
About the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund
For over a decade, the GGRF has collected proceeds from California’s cap-and-trade program, where companies purchase allowances for their greenhouse gas emissions. These funds are then allocated to state agencies for programs designed for improving public health, environmental restoration, renewable energy development and climate resilience, particularly among low-income communities.
Tags: action alerts, advocacy, California, California budget, climate action, climate change, funds for protecting redwoods
