Nature-based solutions that include conservation are an increasingly important arena for advancing climate action. Conservation planning decisions can depend on what kinds of tradeoffs are made and which benefits need to be prioritized. What then does local implementation look like when governance of land use planning tradeoffs is confronted by potentially competing priorities in climate, nature, and development? In this paper, we analyze institutional instruments – namely, local and state plans from across California – to better understand how nature-based solutions include conservation strategies to deliver co-benefits. … Our analysis of local planning documents shows that subnational governments, such as California, are experimenting with different governance arrangements to decipher co-benefits and to manage trade-offs. Specifically, we find the presence of supportive citizen coalitions, funding and financing, and regional collaborations as notable enablers of nature-based solutions in California.

Other land-use planning news:

• Environmental Defense Fund: News release: New report shows progress in California’s land repurposing program