Protecting California’s Food Supply Through the COVID-19 Pandemic– [a webinar recap]

Supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19 brought food security — and the resilience of food networks — to the forefront of discussion among policy makers. In particular, the pandemic has highlighted essential role of local farmers in ensuring a reliable and healthy food supply for our state and country. That’s why the American Farmland Trust…

Celebrate Earth Day (Week) With Us–Virtually

“During this especially challenging year, let’s be mindful of this unique time to appreciate the bounty that California has to offer and carry forward our current desire to get outside and enjoy it. Let’s take a moment to think about what we can do to continue appreciating our natural environment and ways to take care of this valuable resource. ” – DOC Director David Shabazian

Using GIS to Show the Interconnectivity of Our Work

Happy #GISDay! Today we celebrate how geographic information systems (GIS) are being used across the globe to make a difference. While a map is a drawing showing a limited number of things – roads, streets, county lines, etc. – an entire database of information is connected to a GIS. It’s an intelligent map that lets…

Santa Clara County Makes Ag Conservation a Priority

Santa Clara County is investing in agricultural conservation infrastructure with the help of planning grant funding administered by the California Department of Conservation (DOC). Until the 1960s, the Santa Clara Valley was referred to as “The Valley of Heart’s Delight.” It was home to a multitude of orchards and 39 canneries — the largest fruit…

DOC’s Women in Science Making a Difference

Women In Science Day “The Department of Conservation is home to dozens of earth science experts and experienced, talented staff. From professional engineers, to geologists, botanists, environmental scientists, and more, DOC is proud many of our science-based positions are held by women.  I am proud of the contributions DOC’s women scientists are making toward helping California achieve…

New Year New Faces at DOC

A new year means new faces for our Faces of Conservation project. Faces of Conservation does just that. It puts a face to the work our staff do daily, often outside of the public eye. We are committed to employing top scientists, engineers, technicians, supervisors, and support staff and leveraging their talent to help balance…

From Serving the Country to Conserving It — GIS is Key

“I am passionate about conserving natural resources and working to slow the rate at which California urbanizes productive farmland and open space.  The Williamson Act is a key tool to achieve that goal.” Annie Giovacchini – Environmental Planner   #FacesOfConservation — Meet Ann Marie (Annie) Giovacchini, an environmental planner for DOC’s Division of Land Resource Protection. Annie…