Regional Conservation Planning Regional Conservation Investment Strategies Mitigation Credit Agreements On this page Announcements Overview Guidelines Components Additional Resources Program Contact Sign up to receive updates about the RCIS Program in California. Subscribe(opens in new tab) Announcements Public presentations from the October 24th, 2023, Regional Conservation Investment Strategies Webinar are now available. These separate presentations provide an overview and updates related to the existing RCIS Program and a focus on the MCA Program. Link(s) to the recorded webinar are located under "Additional Program Resources". posted 11/21/23 Draft Wildlife Connectivity Advance Mitigation Guidelines Available for Public Comment CDFW's Landscape Conservation Planning Program has released the draft Wildlife Connectivity Advance Mitigation Guidelines (Guidelines) for public comment. The Guidelines apply to the Conservation and Mitigation Banking Program and Mitigation Credit Agreements (MCAs), a part of the Regional Conservation Investment Strategy (RCIS) Program. The Guidelines and information on public comment are available on the Wildlife Connectivity Advance Mitigation page. posted 10/18/23 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 for any other questions or to get on the Notifications list. Program Guidelines RCAs, RCISs, and MCAs must be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the 2023 RCIS Program Guidelines (PDF)(opens in new tab) Development of an RCA, RCIS, or MCA requires payment of the applicable RCIS Program Fees (PDF)(opens in new tab) For development of an MCA, CDFW strongly recommends using the MCA Template (Word)(opens in new tab) A draft MCA must be submitted with the MCA Checklist (PDF)(opens in new tab) An MCA Framework must be submitted with a Framework Checklist (PDF)(opens in new tab)(opens in new tab)(opens in new tab)(opens in new tab)(opens in new tab) 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) #2 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) #3 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 NEW - CDFW’s RCIS Program Overview & Updates, Public Webinar, hosted by The Nature Conservancy from October 2023 – RCIS Presentation (Video)(opens in new tab) NEW - CDFW’s MCA Program Overview & Updates, Public Webinar, hosted by The Nature Conservancy from October 2023 – MCA Presentation (Video)(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 web page(opens in new tab) for information about grant funding, including for the preparation of RCISs Glance through the RCIS Program Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)(opens in new tab) Program Contact For further information about the RCIS Program or to receive Program notifications, contact the RCIS Program Team at RCIS@wildlife.ca.gov
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) #2 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) #3 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.