Sacramento, CA--The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has committed over $20 million in grants to curb illegal cannabis cultivation and support growers in restoring and conserving their lands.
[Image via Aurora Cannabis Inc]
This initiative comes under the Cannabis Restoration Grant Program (CRGP), which aims to counter the negative environmental impacts of illicit cannabis growth practices.These practices include wildlife poaching, unlawful water diversions for irrigation, land conversion, and the use of banned pesticides. According to Amelia Wright, CDFW Cannabis Program Director, these new grant opportunities will fund various projects to protect and restore California's diverse natural resources.
In a regulated market, cultivators typically collaborate with state regulators to minimize environmental harm. The CDFW's grant program seeks to reduce the number of unlicensed grows, ultimately benefiting the environment. The grants will help cover costs associated with permitting requirements, upgrading road crossings and culverts, and cleaning and remediation of illicit grow sites.
The funding is not directly given to farmers but to nonprofits, tribes, government agencies, and other organizations that manage environmental projects for landowners. Last year, the CDFW granted nearly $5 million, and it expects to quadruple the awards this year as more cultivators become aware of the program.
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