Voter Receptivity and Elite Legislative Behavior on Public Land Protection: A Northern California Analysis
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: California is at approximately 24% of its 30% goal for public land conservation through Gavin Newsom's 30x30 plan, a trailblazing piece of climate change and conservation legislation (Newsom, 2024).Newsom's "30 x 30" plan to conserve 30% of state lands and coastal waters by 2030 has become pertinent to ensuring public land and natural resource production and recreational use will continue for years to come.Public land is critical in this journey since about 15% of California's land is public (BLM, 2024).To explore the impact of future legislation on California's environmental future, my research question asks broadly: How does the housing demographic affect the introduction and implementation of public land legislation?Specifically, are voters in rural counties of Northern California less likely to favor the introduction and implementation of policies strengthening public land protection than urban counties?This is explored through a comparative analysis of elite legislative behavior by California Senators and voter receptivity in regard to environmental legislation with the inclusion of public land protection within rural and urban counties in Northern California from 2014 to 2024.I find that rurality and housing density directly affect voter receptivity to enacting public land conservation legislation and discussing the necessary resources needed to create impactful legislation.
Author: Heskett, Camille
Language: English
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7034849966
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