Accordion side navigation Regional Conservation Planning Regional Conservation Investment Strategies Mitigation Credit Agreements Regional Conservation Investment Strategies Program On this page Announcements Overview Guidelines Components Additional Resources Program Contact Announcements Recorded Presentations of the October 2024 webinars are now available: Advance Mitigation Options(opens in new tab) Mitigation Credit Agreements (MCAs)(opens in new tab) Connectivity Advance Mitigation (CAM)(opens in new tab) Regional Conservation Investment Strategies (RCIS)(opens in new tab) Sign up to receive updates about the RCIS Program in California. Subscribe 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 components: Regional Conservation Assessment (RCA), Regional Conservation Investment Strategy (RCIS), and Mitigation Credit Agreement (MCA). Please contact the RCIS Program Team at RCIS@wildlife.ca.gov with any questions. Program Guidelines 2023 RCIS Program Guidelines (PDF)(opens in new tab) RCAs, RCISs, and MCAs must be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the guidelines. RCIS Program Fees (PDF)(opens in new tab) Development of an RCA, RCIS, or MCA requires payment of the applicable fees. MCA Template (Word)(opens in new tab) for development of an MCA. MCA Checklist (PDF)(opens in new tab) A draft MCA must be submitted with the MCA checklist. Framework Checklist (PDF)(opens in new tab) An MCA Framework must be submitted with a Framework Checklist. Program Components Regional Conservation Assessment (RCA) Uses existing information to provide an assessment of the area's existing conditions. An RCA 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. Regional Conservation Investment Strategy (RCIS) Uses existing information to provide an assessment of the area's existing conditions. 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. 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. Additional Program Resources RCIS Subprogram Overview, Public Webinar, October 2024 (Video) MCA Subprogram Overview, Public Webinar, October 2024 (Video)(opens in new tab) RCIS Program Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)(opens in new tab) Fish and Game Code, sections 1850-1860 outlines the requirements of the RCIS Program(opens in new tab) Visit WCB's website(opens in new tab) for information about grant funding, including for the preparation of RCISs Program Contact For questions about the RCIS Program, contact the RCIS Program Team at: RCIS@wildlife.ca.gov. Click "Subscribe" above to sign up for updates about the RCIS Program.
Regional Conservation Assessment (RCA) Uses existing information to provide an assessment of the area's existing conditions. An RCA 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.
Regional Conservation Investment Strategy (RCIS) Uses existing information to provide an assessment of the area's existing conditions. 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.
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.
