World · India Bureau
California funds Native American tribe's coastal land conservation effort
California has committed $5 million toward a Northern Chumash Tribe initiative to purchase and restore a former abalone farm on the state's central coast. The $18 million project aims to revive native ecosystems and support research into endangered marine species.
LSN India ·
The state of California has approved $5 million in funding to support the yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe's acquisition of 357 coastal acres in Cayucos, a site that once housed the nation's largest abalone farming operation.
The tribe is raising $18 million to complete the purchase of the property, which sits on California's central coast. The investment represents a significant step toward restoring native habitats in the region and reclaiming land traditionally connected to the Chumash people.
The project encompasses multiple conservation and research objectives. Plans include restoring the site's natural ecosystems, reviving sustainable aquaculture practices, and conducting scientific research focused on the endangered white and black abalone species. These marine species face population pressures and the research aims to support broader conservation efforts.
The funding approval reflects growing state support for Native American-led environmental stewardship initiatives. By partnering with indigenous communities, California is advancing both cultural preservation and marine ecosystem restoration goals along its vulnerable coastline.