Section 1930.

The Legislature finds and declares that:

(a) Areas containing diverse ecological and geological characteristics are vital to the continual health and well being of the state's natural resources and of its citizens.

(b) Many habitats and ecosystems that constitute the state's natural diversity are in danger of being lost.

(c) Connectivity between wildlife habitats is important to the long-term viability of the state's biodiversity.

(d) Increasingly fragmented habitats threaten the state's wildlife species.

(e) There is insufficient incentive for private landowners to maintain and perpetuate significant local natural areas in their natural state.

(f) Efforts to preserve natural areas have been fragmented between federal, state, local, and private sectors.

(g) Analysis of the state's habitat connectivity benefits from the consideration of all relevant data, including information from private and public landowners.

(h) The Department of Fish and Game's existing mapping activities and products should be developed and sustained.

(Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 333, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2009.)