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The primary driver of grazing policies to benefit California�s grassland biodiversity is the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).� California has 301 federally listed threatened or endangered species. �Since seventy percent (70%)�of�these species (212) have some nexus with livestock grazing with many of them occurring on grassland, the ESA has widespread impact on the conservation and management of California�s grassland.� Required mitigation for loss of habitat and impacts to species as a result of development and public works projects is resulting in a growing number of conservation easements being placed on both private and public-owned grasslands.� These easements include a conservation management plan, which typically permits and often requires livestock grazing to manage the grassland habitat for the species being conserved. �On public lands, even without an easement, livestock grazing to achieve specific habitat conservation goals may be required depending on the interests and needs of the public agency.� Although there is an increase in the amount of conservation planning and monitoring as a result of the ESA, there is often little science used to guide appropriate grazing management or effective monitoring; agencies do not require the involvement of a California licensed Certified Rangeland Manager, even though state law requires it.� Other regulations and policies that influence grazing and its potential impacts to biodiversity on California�s grasslands, especially on public lands include California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Nation Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Natural Community Conservation Planning Act (NCCP), water quality regulations including Federal Clean Water Act, federal and state coastal zone regulations and California�s Porter-Cologne Act, and public access and use requirements.�These regulations can create both challenges and opportunities for implementing grazing management that could benefit biodiversity in California�s grasslands.