Habitat Conservation
Assistance Network
Proactive Conservation for Working Lands

The Colorado Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program began in 1988 and has evolved into a truely statewide cooperative effort. Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW), CPW Wetland Wildlife Conservation Program, Great Outdoors Colorado (lottery proceeds), Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, Natural Resources Conservation Service, local Water and Soil Conservation Districts, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and over 1,000 landowners have combined to restore and protect wetland, upland, and riparian habitat.

Colorado Partners for Fish and Wildlife sets project priorities based upon three principal factors:

1. Federal trust species interests
2. The goals of the Fish and Wildlife Service and our major partners
3. Significant habitat restoration or management potential on private land must be available for the Partners Program to pursue projects

Where these three factors intersect is a key component for determination of where the program should focus its efforts in Colorado.

Long term goals for the Colorado Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program include:

• Working with our partners to prevent the need for further listing of species as endangered or threatened due to habitat loss
• Restoring Colorado's riparian and wetland systems
• Contributing to conservation on a landscape scale

The potential for success is best measured not in acres or miles but in the willingness of Colorado's landowners to participate in voluntary, targeted wildlife conservation. Given the significant landscape changes which have occurred and will continue to occur in Colorado, success will need to be measured in the continued viability of Colorado's biodiversity.

Colorado Partners for Fish and Wildlife provides advice and information on a variety of issues:

• Wetland and riparian restoration
• Food and shelter for fish and wildlife
• Soil and water quality improvement
• Grazing plans to benefit livestock and wildlife
• Native plant restoration
• Water level management

Contact Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program in Colorado

Listed as:

• Department of Interior - Fish and Wildlife Service Programs