CA SB977

Establishes the California Conservation Ranching Incentive Program administered by the Wildlife Conservation Board to award grants to eligible entities for implementing conservation ranching practices on private rangelands.

Eligible entities include regional conservancies, resource conservation districts, nonprofit organizations, local and state agencies, federal agencies, California Native American tribes, and other entities identified by the board.

Program grantees may use up to 30% of grant funds for administrative and outreach purposes, including technical assistance to landowners and preparation of management plans.

Requires program grantees to submit annual reports to the board describing project implementation, acres impacted, environmental benefits provided, and accounting of expenditures.

Selection criteria for projects include potential to restore biodiversity, proximity to protected lands, consistency with regional plans, environmental benefits such as climate resilience and wildfire protection, and potential to increase native species diversity.