March 6, 2025

In the wake of California’s increasingly frequent and devastating natural disasters, including wildfires, droughts, and floods, the need for mitigation strategies has never been more urgent. Disasters like the recent Los Angeles County firestorms not only disrupt communities but also expose the bureaucratic shortcomings that often delay necessary mitigation and recovery efforts. The process for clearing vegetation, establishing fuel breaks, and implementing fire prevention measures – proven strategies to save lives and properties – are often bogged down by lengthy environmental reviews, frustrating local governments and emergency responders who are eager to take immediate action.

Governor Newsom’s state of emergency proclamation on March 1 aims to directly address these challenges by fast-tracking critical forest management projects, part of the state’s broader efforts to protect communities from catastrophic wildfire. The emergency proclamation suspends key provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the Coastal Act for some vegetation and tree removal, fuel break development, prescribed fire, and more. The declaration will allow non-state entities to conduct essential fuels reduction work with streamlined approval, expanding existing regulatory programs that tackle wildfire risks more effectively.

CSAC applauded the Governor’s actions, which mirror the counties’ long-standing call for improved wildfire mitigation. “This is absolutely the right move from Governor Gavin Newsom. Counties are ready to move quickly to address wildfire risks. The next step in recognizing that fire season is now year-round is to codify these orders in state law.”

This announcement aligns closely with CSAC’s ongoing advocacy to remove barriers that hinder timely disaster response, recovery, and resiliency efforts. CSAC has been a champion for streamlining regulatory processes for wildfire prevention, advocating for policies that expedite environmental reviews for vegetation management near communities, particularly within a ¼ mile radius of at-risk areas. Wildfire mitigation work, such as fuel breaks and biomass treatments, have proven highly effective in slowing the spread of fires, providing critical time for firefighters to contain blazes and protect communities.

In addition to advocating for more efficient state-level processes, CSAC continues to push for streamlining environmental review for vegetation management on federal and state public lands, including rights-of-way and along key evacuation routes.

In the coming weeks, the California Natural Resources Agency will host webinars to discuss the implementation of the Emergency Declaration and to provide clarity for project advocates and local governments. CSAC will continue to advocate for ongoing regulatory streamlining to improve California’s preparedness for future natural disasters.

For more information on CSAC’s disaster preparedness and recovery advocacy, please visit our disaster pamphlet.