(

a) This

article shall be known and may be cited as the California State Safe Harbor Agreement Program Act. (

b) The Legislature finds that a key to the goals set forth in this

article of conserving, protecting, restoring, and enhancing endangered, threatened, and candidate species, is their habitat. A significant portion of the state’s current and potential habitat for these species exists on property owned by private citizens, municipalities, tribes, and other nonfederal entities. Conservation efforts on these lands and waters are critical to help these declining species. Using a collaborative stewardship approach to these lands and waters will help ensure the success of these efforts. (

c) The purpose of this

article is to establish a program that will encourage landowners to manage their lands voluntarily to benefit endangered, threatened, or candidate species, or declining or vulnerable species, and not be subject to additional regulatory restrictions as a result of their conservation efforts. (

d) This

article does not relieve landowners of any legal obligation with respect to endangered, threatened, or candidate species existing on their land. The program established by this

article is designed to increase species populations, create new habitats, and enhance existing habitats. Although this increase may be temporary or long term, California state safe harbor agreements shall not reduce the existing populations of species present at the time the baseline is established by the department.