Montrose District

Conservation Education

Overview

Promoting public understanding of the role and value of Colorado’s forests and other natural resources is critical to the mission of the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS). The agency is non-regulatory – our accomplishments proceed from our educational approach.

Conservation Education focuses on developing scientifically-sound messages and materials for use by personnel, partners and Colorado citizens. Subject area emphases for our messages and materials are driven by the agency's strategic priorities.

This educational approach:

  • increases awareness/understanding of Colorado citizens regarding key forestry issues and the role they play in addressing those issues;
  • enables Coloradans to recognize the diverse environmental benefits provided by forest ecosystems;
  • motivates homeowners, landowners, and communities to take positive action; and
  • provides scientifically sound information to decision-makers so that they may respond appropriately to forestry and wildland fire issues.

Overall, CSFS strives to assist our foresters, Colorado educators, students, homeowners, partners and interested citizens with educational resources and information to help improve and maintain healthy forests.

For more information, to access educational materials, or to order publications please contact jserby@lamar.colostate.edu, or lisa.mason@colostate.edu

Colorado's Are You FireWise? Program

This homeowner education program was developed by CSFS in conjunction with Larimer County, Poudre Fire Authority, and the Loveland Fire Protection District. This how-to manual for homeowner’s to create defensible space around their homes has been widely distributed and facilitated around the state, and remains CSFS’ centerpiece for wildfire prevention education for individual homeowners.

The "standard" model (553 KB PDF) has been joined by an adaptation for Colorado’s plains and grasslands (280 KB PDF).

Forest Health and Fire Prevention/Mitigation Education & Information

In addition to "Are You FireWise?," CSFS is continually developing various methods to deliver foresthealth and fire prevention/mitigation education.We partner with other agency representatives in various large- and small-scale events (e.g.Colorado State Fair and Garden & Home Show) to reach our diverse audiences. We have created interactive displays, publications,and teaching materials to support these efforts.

Conservation Education Links