Cross-Border, Nature Based Market Solutions to Protect Blue Carbon Coastal Ecosystems in the Californias

March 2022

Breeding colony of Royal Tern and Double-crested Cormorant, Photo of Victor Ayala-Perez

residents in 2020. 23 While California is the United States’ most biodiverse rich state, it is also the most urbanized. As a consequence, California is also home to the highest number of species threatened with extinction: 283 plant species are listed on either the State or Federal endangered species acts, as are 154 animal species. While the threat to biodiversity is ever present throughout the State of California, the challenges are greatest in Southern California—a region that is also known to be the most urbanized biodiversity hotspot in the world. 24 According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), over 27 million California residents–accounting for over 68% of the state’s population—live in major urban metro regions along the Pacific Coastline. 25 Furthermore, over 16.5 million Californians,

growth, transforming the state’s landscape and coastal habitats along the way.

Today, California is the fifth largest economy in the world, ranked behind the US, China, Japan and Germany, with a gross regional product of US $3.1 trillion (and accounting for 14% of the GDP of the United States). 20 California is also a leader in commerce and innovation. In fact, according to a recent Brookings Institution study, three of the ive fastest growing innovation hubs in the United States are located in California coastal cities: San Francisco, San Jose and San Diego. 21 In the area of global trade, California ranks #1 among U.S. states, led by the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. California also leads the nation in agricultural production, accounting for 12% of the nation’s total. 22 In land area, California is the third largest U.S. state, at approximately 424,000 km 2 and is also the most populated state of the union with 39.5 million 20 https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021 06-14/california-defies-doom-with-no-1-u-s economy 21 https://www.brookings.edu/research/growth centers-how-to-spread-tech-innovation-across america/ 22 https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2019/07/05/gian

ts-fans-can-find-solace-california-us-agricultures mvp-sales 23 https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/CA 24 Mayer, Audrey L. Bird versus Bulldozer (p. 263). Yale University Press. Kindle Edition. 25 https://coast.noaa.gov/states/california.html

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