The History of the Natural Community Conservation Planning Act

The NCCP program began under the State's Natural Community Conservation Planning Act of 1991 (PDF)(opens in new tab).

Guidelines were developed to supplement the NCCP Act, including the

• Southern California Coastal Sage Scrub NCCP Process Guidelines -1993 (PDF)(opens in new tab)
• Southern California Coastal Sage Scrub NCCP Conservation Guidelines -1993 (PDF)(opens in new tab)
• NCCP General Process Guidelines - 1998 (PDF)(opens in new tab)

Amendments were added to the Act in 1996 and 2000. It was then superseded by the NCCP Act of 2003 (PDF)(opens in new tab), which was subsequently amended in 2003, 2011 and 2012, the current version of the NCCP Act(opens in new tab).

Changes in NCCP Act of 2003

• New definitions (including adaptive management and monitoring)
• Additional guidance for the independent scientific input process
• Interim project review process
• Approval findings
• Implementing agreement contents
• Statutory assurances
• Species coverage standards
• Injunctive relief
• Grounds for suspension or revocation of permits
• Future optional regulations
• Grandfathering of plans underway prior to the enactment of the new legislation

For details on the early history of the NCCP program, we recommend the following:

• NCCP – A New Approach to Saving Species - 1994 (PDF)(opens in new tab)
• Natural Community Conservation Planning, 1991-1998, A Partnership for Conservation - 1999 (PDF) (opens in new tab)
• Natural Community Conservation Planning (NCCP): The Origins of an Ambitious Experiment to Protect Ecosystems - 2001 (PDF)(opens in new tab)
• The Future of Habitat Conservation? The NCCP Experience in Southern California - 2001 (PDF)(opens in new tab)
• Natural Community Conservation Planning – The First 10 Years - 2002 (PDF)(opens in new tab)