Perseids Meteor Shower at Conaway Ranch
Nate Lillge • August 21, 2023
Bill Grabert and Jake Glassman are the newest members of Tuleyome’s Board!
Bill became a Tuleyome staff member in 2016, retired in 2021, and has continued his involvement with the organization as a volunteer. His staff roles included activities/education coordinator, lecture series host and California Certified Naturalist instructor. Bill fell in love with the natural beauty of the Berryessa-Snow Mountain area while working as a geologist in the geothermal fields of Lake County in the late 1970’s. He earned a double major BA in Environmental Biology and Geology from UC Santa Barbara. After a decade or so exploring for geothermal energy, Bill earned an MBA from San Francisco State University and started a second career in Information Technology designing and managing Health Care and Financial Information systems. Bill’s next, roughly decade-long, career was as a stay-home dad, scout leader, parent volunteer and home manager. In 2016, finding and joining Tuleyome was the perfect place to consolidate such a wide range of life experience into a final career. Bill is honored to continue his contribution to Tuleyome and the people of Tuleyome’s focus area as a board member.
Jake Glassman is an environmental professional with experience in both the clean energy and conservation fields. He currently works on the state policy team of the US Program at RMI (formerly Rocky Mountain Institute), engaging with leading states to increase the speed and scale of their climate policy. Prior to working at RMI, Jake was a consultant at Campaign for Nature, focusing on establishing stronger global conservation targets and funding to achieve them. His other professional experiences include ecology research, public lands conservation, and government relations work with an energy and environment focus. Jake has an M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering (Atmosphere/Energy program) and B.S. in Environmental Systems Engineering from Stanford University.
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In 2020, Governor Newsom committed California to an ambitious goal: conserve 30% of our lands and coastal waters by 2030. This “30x30” initiative isn’t just about setting aside more protected areas; it’s a comprehensive strategy to protect biodiversity, expand equitable access to nature, and build resilience to climate change across California’s diverse landscapes and waters. California has made meaningful progress towards the 30x30 goal. Currently, 24.4% of our lands and 16.2% of coastal waters meet the 30x30 conservation criteria, defined as areas that are durably protected and managed to sustain functional ecosystems and the diversity of life they support. But with less than five years remaining, we still need to conserve millions of additional acres to reach this critical goal. The Power In Nature Coalition No single organization can achieve 30x30 alone. That’s why Tuleyome is a proud member of the Power In Nature Coalition; a network made powerful by the collective work of over 250 community groups, conservation organizations, land trusts, and Indigenous organizations working together to conserve and protect the diverse landscapes of California. This statewide network coordinates advocacy, identifies priority conservation projects , and ensures that 30x30 implementation protects biodiversity, fosters meaningful relationships, and partners with state agencies and diverse communities. Power In Nature works on multiple fronts: defending conservation funding in state budgets, identifying potential 30x30 projects across California, and advocating for policies that support rather than undermine conservation progress. Power In Nature has multiple regional groups to elevate geographical priorities and empower local organizations to connect state-level policy to on-the-ground conservation work in their communities. Tuleyome’s Role in Advancing 30x30 At Tuleyome, our work protecting the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument directly contributes to California’s 30x30 goals. We’re actively engaged with Power In Nature’s Sacramento Valley regional group, as well as the Far North and Bay Area regional groups, helping coordinate conservation efforts across our region and connecting local priorities to statewide advocacy. Tuleyome has also participated in Power In Nature Advocacy Days, where we met with state elected officials to discuss policies and legislation that further or hinder the 30x30 conservation goals. How You Can Support 30x30 Whether you’re a landowner, community member, or fellow conservation advocate, there are many ways you can support 30x30 progress. There are multiple qualifying conservation lands that have not been added to the Conserved Areas Explorer and this is one of the many ways people can get involved to help track areas protected. If you’re interested in learning more about 30x30 activities in your region, check out the Power In Nature regional groups and sign up to attend monthly regional meetings or gain access to Power In Nature’s newsletter. Most importantly, through Power In Nature, you can make your voice heard by participating in local advocacy days or contacting your state legislators to encourage their support for full funding to conservation agencies and protection of environmental review processes. California’s commitment to conserve 30% of our lands and waters by 2030 is achievable, but only if we work together to make it a reality. If you have questions about how to get involved with 30x30 or Power In Nature, don’t hesitate to reach out! Bryan Pride Tuleyome Policy Director
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