Audubon California and local Audubon chapters have a long history of support for California State Parks, and it has been heartbreaking watching this valuable treasure threatened year after year by state budget cuts. Audubon California is helping secure the future of California State Parks by supporting a ballot initiative that will provide dependable funding for the parks.

If ultimately approved by the voters, the State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010 will increase the vehicle license fee by $18, and in exchange give Californians free access to state parks. This proposal would generate $500 million in annual funding for state parks, wildlife areas, and marine protected areas. It should be noted that 50 state parks include Audubon Important Bird Areas.

Audubon California is part of a rapidly growing coalition of initiative supporters including the California State Parks Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, The Trust for Public Land, Sierra Club California, Save the Redwoods League, Defenders of Wildlife, Surfrider Foundation, California State Park Rangers Association, California State Lifeguard Association and Ocean Conservancy.