Overview
In order to protect species and habitats in California, there are various laws which require compensation for impacts, or “mitigation.” By establishing mitigation in advance of project impacts, more efficient permits and greater regional conservation benefits can be achieved. Advance mitigation considers species and habitat needs at a landscape level, preserving larger areas of high-quality habitat and improving regional ecological function.
CDFW Advance Mitigation Options
A conservation or mitigation bank protects and manages land to create mitigation credits, which can be used as compensatory mitigation for environmental impacts.
A Mitigation Credit Agreement (MCA) creates mitigation credits through the implementation of actions within a Regional Conservation Investment Strategy (RCIS).
The Connectivity Advance Mitigation (CAM) subprogram, supplementary to the Conservation and Banking Program or MCAs, creates compensatory mitigation credits for wildlife connectivity actions.
A Natural Communities Conservation Plan (NCCP) is designed to provide a long-term, regional permit resulting in predetermined conservation, mitigation, and compatible land uses.
To learn more about CDFW's Advance Mitigation options, view the Advance Mitigation playlist (YouTube).
Interagency Collaboration
CDFW participates in several interagency efforts to facilitate advance mitigation.
Caltrans
The Statewide Advance Mitigation Initiative (SAMI) is an interagency collaboration between Caltrans and state and federal resource agencies to further the development and implementation of a mutual framework for planned transportation projects at a landscape scale. See the 2021 SAMI Memorandum of Understanding (PDF) for more information.
CDFW prepares a biennial report for the Legislature regarding the effectiveness of the Caltrans Advance Mitigation Program. Most recent: 2024 CDFW Report on Caltrans Advance Mitigation Program (PDF)
Conservation and Mitigation Banking Program
CDFW entered into a statewide multi-agency Memorandum of Understanding (PDF) in 2011 to guide how eight state and federal agencies would work together to streamline processes, reviews, and standardize bank document templates.
Mitigation Credit Agreement
During the MCA process, it is the intent of CDFW to coordinate with the compensatory mitigation requirements of other applicable local, state, or federal regulatory agencies. These agencies may review and sign the MCA as acknowledging agencies to indicate the MCA meets their standards and requirements.