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Question: What is green, enjoyed by Californian's throughout the state, and will be cut by almost 20% if the state's new budget is approved?

Answer:  California's state parks!                                                                        

That's right.  The new budget proposed by Gov. Schwarzenegger calls for the unprecedented closure of 48 state parks!  His proposal also includes drastic cuts to the CA Department of Fish and Game's Biodiversity Conservation Program, the Coastal Commission, and over 25 other state-funded resource management departments (visit http://www.ebudget.ca.gov/StateAgencyBudgets/3000/agency.html for a complete list of programs that will suffer funding reductions).  Collectively, this means fewer parks, less funding for habitat restoration projects, and reduced enforcement capacity to protect our fisheries and wildlife.  If approved, this budget will undermine the integrity of many of California's natural areas and severely limit the state's ability to protect our natural resources.

Your legislators need to hear from you before decisions concerning the budget are finalized in coming months.  Please take a moment to call, write, or email your state decision-makers.  Although a written letter or personal phone call usually works best, feel free to use our template letter below.  We suggest that you send your comment letter to the Chairs of the Budget Committee, Denise Ducheny and John Laird, and to Governor Schwarzenegger.