NEWS RELEASE

Contact for Reporters:

Ryan Lockwood 970.491.8970 or 970.491.6303

ryan.lockwood@nullcolostate.edu

csfs.colostate.edu

Landowners Can Receive Financial Assistance to Protect Forestlands

 FORT COLLINS, Colo. – May 26, 2016 – The Colorado State Forest Service is now accepting Forest Legacy Program proposals from Colorado landowners. The program authorizes the CSFS or USDA Forest Service to purchase permanent conservation easements on private forestlands to prevent those lands from being converted to non-forest uses.

The purpose of the Colorado Forest Legacy Program is to protect environmentally important private forest areas that are threatened by conversion to non-forest uses. The program provides an opportunity for private landowners to retain ownership and management of their land, while receiving compensation for unrealized development rights.

Forestlands that contain important scenic, cultural, recreation and water resources, including fish and  wildlife habitat and other ecological values, and that support traditional forest uses, will receive priority. Landowners who elect to participate in the program are required to follow a land management plan approved by the CSFS. Activities consistent with the management plan, including timber harvesting, grazing and recreation activities, are permitted.

The Colorado State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee will evaluate proposals and recommend to the state forester those proposals that have sufficient merit to forward to the USDA Forest Service.  Forwarded proposals will then compete at a regional level; those selected at the regional level will compete nationally for funding.

The application deadline is 4 p.m. July 29, 2016, for federal fiscal year 2018 funding. Proposals must be submitted by standard mail.

For additional information or to obtain an application packet, contact Naomi Marcus at 970-491-6303. Applications also are available online at http://csfs.colostate.edu/funding-assistance.

***The Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) provides technical forestry assistance, wildfire mitigation expertise and outreach and education to help landowners and communities achieve their forest management goals. The CSFS is a service and outreach agency of the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University and provides staffing for the Division of Forestry within the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. 

This message was sent by Marcus,Naomi at Naomi.Marcus@nullColoState.EDU.

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Maya MacHamer

Watershed Coalition Coordinator

Fourmile Watershed Coalition

1740 Fourmile Canyon Dr.

Boulder, Co. 80302

(c) 303-817-2261

(o) 303-449-3333

fourmilewatershed.org