rolling hills with oaks and blue sky
CDFW Photo by Andrea Cornelius

Regional Conservation Investment Strategies (RCIS) Program

Program Overview

The Regional Conservation Investment Strategies (RCIS) Program is a voluntary program that encourages conservation assessments and planning at a landscape level using existing information. The RCIS Program also provides opportunities for large-scale conservation and mitigation projects resulting in higher ecological benefits than project-by-project efforts. The various RCIS Program opportunities are available through the Program's three subprograms, listed below.

RCIS Subprograms

golden poppies on rolling hills
Regional Conservation Investment Strategy (RCIS)

An RCIS provides guidance for the types and locations of conservation and mitigation projects that would provide ecological benefits within the area. Public agencies and federally recognized tribes can create an RCIS.

pine tree with shrubs and blue sky
Mitigation Credit Agreement (MCA)

An MCA is a flexible advance mitigation crediting mechanism developed under an approved RCIS. Anyone can develop an MCA in collaboration with CDFW to create mitigation credits by implementing actions identified in an RCIS.

oak on a grassy slope
Regional Conservation Assessment (RCA)

An RCA uses existing information to provide an assessment of the area's existing conditions. It may be used by anyone for various types of conservation or development scoping. No RCAs have been proposed to date. Contact the RCIS Program Team for more information.

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Program Contact

Contact the RCIS Program Team at RCIS@wildlife.ca.gov  with any questions.

Habitat Conservation Planning Branch
P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090
HCPB@wildlife.ca.gov