Desert Conservation Program

Fish and Game Code Division 2, Chapter 4.4 deals with the California Desert Conservation Program under the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Section 1450 names the chapter as the California Desert Conservation Act. Section 1451 contains ten legislative findings and declarations.

Section 1452 defines the terms “board,” “department,” “local public agency,” “nonprofit organization,” “program,” “region,” “California deserts region,” and “tribe.”

Section 1453 requires the board to establish and administer, through the department, the program. The purpose and goal of the program is to do all five specified actions.

Section 1454 requires the board to approve projects to acquire, preserve, restore, and enhance desert habitat within the California deserts region consistent with the conservation strategies approved by the department and coordinate its activities undertaken pursuant to the program with other resource protection activities of the board and other state agencies.

Section 1455 requires the preservation and restoration of desert habitat to be a primary concern of the board and the department, and of all state agencies whose activities impact desert habitat.

Section 1456 states, in order to accomplish the purposes of this chapter, the board may authorize the department to do all four specified activities.

Section 1457 provides grants to nonprofit organizations for the acquisition of real property or interests therein must be subject to all six specified conditions.

Section 1458 created the California Desert Conservation Program Fund Account in the State Treasury. The account is administered by the board. Moneys in the account may be expended, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purposes of this chapter.