CA AB57

Establishes the California Pocket Forest Initiative within the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to promote pocket forests in urban areas.

Authorizes the department to offer grants to cities, counties, nonprofit organizations, public schools, colleges, universities, and conservation corps to establish pocket forests on public lands using the Miyawaki method.

Requires the department to prioritize grants for disadvantaged communities and areas lacking publicly accessible green space, with optional funding for school grantees to develop urban forestry curriculum.

Mandates the department partner with academic institutions to test the Miyawaki method's effectiveness for urban reforestation across multiple California regions and submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2030.

Sunsets all provisions on January 1, 2031.