The first steps taken in California to shift the focus of conservation toward biodiversity came in September 1991, when 10 state and federal land managing agencies and the University of California signed an unprecedented agreement committing themselves to cooperate, communicate, and foster regional efforts to promote biodiversity conservation. In August, 1992, the Council invited representation from the seven statewide regional county supervisors' associations in order to add the important local perspective.
The Agreement on Biological Diversity establishes a Biodiversity Council to develop guiding principles and policies, design a statewide strategy to conserve biological diversity, and coordinate implementation of this strategy through regional and local institutions. The Secretary of the Resources Agency is the permanent chair of the Biodiversity Council.
The California Biodiversity Council also is guiding the development of the California Environmental Resources Evaluation System (CERES)-- an advanced high-technology system designed to inventory and electronically distribute information about California's rich and diverse natural and cultural resources.
E-mail for Comments: httpd@spp-www.cdf.ca.gov