Section 10201.

The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following:

(a) The agricultural lands of the state contribute substantially to the state, national, and world food supply and are a vital part of the state's economy.

(b) The growing population and expanding economy of the state have had a profound impact on the ability of the public and private sectors to conserve land for the production of food and fiber, especially agricultural land around urban areas.

(c) Agricultural lands near urban areas that are maintained in productive agricultural use are a significant part of California's agricultural heritage. These lands contribute to the economic betterment of local areas and the entire state and are an important source of food, fiber, and other agricultural products. Conserving these lands is necessary due to increasing development pressures and the effects of urbanization on farmlands close to cities.

(d) The long-term conservation of agricultural land is necessary to safeguard an adequate supply of agricultural land and to balance the increasing development pressures around urban areas.

(e) A program to encourage and make possible the long-term conservation of agricultural lands is a necessary part of the state's agricultural land protection policies and programs, and it is appropriate to expend money for that purpose. A program of this nature will only be effective when used in concert with local planning and zoning strategies to conserve agricultural land.

(f) Funding is necessary to better address the needs of conserving agricultural land near urban areas.

(Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 931, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1996.)