Publications
If you wish to receive copies of our publications by mail, please refer to our order form.
Please note: Due to current COVID-19 protocols, staff are working remotely and mailing requests may be delayed.
CSFS Agency Overview
- Caring for Colorado’s Forests: An Overview of the Colorado State Forest Service (2015) (423 KB PDF)
- Colorado Forest Facts (670 KB PDF)
- Colorado State Forest Service Five-Year Strategic Plan: 2021-2025 (1.4 MB PDF)
Colorado's Forests
- 2020 Colorado Forest Action Plan (56 MB PDF)
- Choosing a Forestry Contractor and Consultant (282 KB PDF)
- Colorado Forest Road Field Handbook (11.4 MB PDF)
- Colorado’s Forest Stewardship Program Brochure (458 KB PDF)
- Colorado Forestry Best Management Practices: Forest Stewardship Guidelines for Water Quality Protection – 2021 Field Monitoring Report (8.5 MB PDF)
- Colorado Forestry Best Management Practices: Forest Stewardship Guidelines for Water Quality Protection – 2018 Field Monitoring Report (10.5 MB PDF)
- Colorado Forestry Best Management Practices: Forest Stewardship Guidelines for Water Quality Protection – 2016 Field Monitoring Report (970 KB PDF)
- Community Wildfire Protection Plans: Guidelines for Implementation (4.1 MB PDF)
- Forest Ag Brochure (350 KB PDF)
- Forest Products: From Marking to Market (1.5 MB PDF)
- Forestry Best Management Practices to Protect Water Quality in Colorado – 2010 (461 KB PDF)
- Landowner Guide to Thinning (1.5 MB PDF)
- Landowning Colorado Style (3.4 MB PDF)
- Mastication Operational Guidelines (234 KB PDF)
- Why Manage Our Forests? (350 KB PDF)
- Cottonwood Management: Ecology, Rehabilitation, Wildfire and Other Considerations – 2015 Quick Guide (7.8 MB PDF)
- Gambel Oak Management (1.3 MB PDF)
- Lodgepole Pine Management Guidelines for Land Managers in the Wildland-Urban Interface (1.3 MB PDF)
- Pinon-Juniper Management – 2011 Quick Guide (401 KB PDF)
Insects, Diseases & Disorders
- Aphids on Shade Trees and Ornamentals (43 KB PDF)
- Asian Longhorned Beetle (321 KB PDF)
- Aspen and Poplar Leaf Spots (203 KB PDF)
- Bacterial Wetwood (176 KB PDF)
- Bark Beetles: Are Your Trees At Risk? (2.4 MB PDF)
- Cytospora Canker (87 KB PDF)
- Diagnosing Tree Disorders (77 KB PDF)
- Douglas-fir Beetle – 2016 Quick Guide (561 KB PDF)
- Douglas-fir Tussock Moth – 2015 Quick Guide (5.4 MB PDF)
- Douglas-fir Tussock Moth Treatment Options (8.9 MB PDF)
- Dwarf Mistletoe Management (127 KB PDF)
- Emerald Ash Borer – Quick Guide (6 MB PDF)
- Fir Engraver Beetle – Quick Guide (6.8 MB PDF)
- Fire Blight (125 KB PDF)
- Firewood and House Log Insects (124 KB PDF)
- Gypsy Moth: What You Need to Know About the Threat to Forests in Colorado (409 KB PDF)
- Honeylocust Diseases (100 KB PDF)
- Insects and Diseases Associated with Forest Fires (7.3 MB PDF)
- Ips Beetle Species (300 KB PDF)
- Juniper-Hawthorn Rust (48 KB PDF)
- Landowner Guide to Living with Bark Beetles (2.7 MB PDF)
- Leafmining Insects (128 KB PDF)
- Magnesium Chloride Toxicity in Trees (1.2 MB PDF)
- Mountain Pine Beetle (362 KB PDF)
- Oystershell Scale (78 KB PDF)
- Piñon Ips Beetle – 2020 Quick Guide (5.3 MB PDF)
- Piñon Pine Diseases and Insects (297 KB PDF)
- Ponderosa Pine Budworm (624 KB PDF)
- Ponderosa Pine Needle Miners (623 KB PDF)
- Poplar Twiggall Fly (144 KB PDF)
- Preventive Spraying for Mountain Pine Beetle (17 KB PDF)
- Product Use to Prevent Mountain Pine Beetle – Quick Guide Revised June 2012 (2.3 MB PDF)
- Protecting Trees During Construction (84 KB PDF)
- Shade Tree Borers (244 KB PDF)
- Solar Treatment for Mountain Pine Beetle (34 KB PDF)
- Spraying Trees to Protect Against Mountain Pine Beetle (43 KB PDF)
- Spruce Beetle – 2014 Quick Guide (493 KB PDF)
- Sudden Aspen Decline in Colorado – Updated Feb. 2011 (2.3 MB PDF)
- Tent-Making Caterpillars (88 KB PDF)
- Thousand Cankers Disease of Black Walnut (335 KB PDF)
- Western Cedar Bark Beetles (62 KB PDF)
- Western Spruce Budworm (5.5 MB PDF)
- What’s Happening in Colorado’s Aspen Forests (1 MB PDF)
- Dwarf Mistletoe Poster (232 KB PDF)
- Ips Beetle Poster (946 KB PDF)
- Mountain Pine Beetle Poster (313 KB PDF)
- Mountain Pine Beetle Management Poster (1.3 MB PDF)
- Spruce Bark Beetle Poster (270 KB PDF)
- Western Spruce Budworm Poster (253 KB PDF)
- What’s Ailing Your Aspen? Poster (935 KB PDF)
- Aphids on Shade Trees and Ornamentals (43 KB PDF)
- Asian Longhorned Beetle in Colorado – Identification of Insects and Damage of Similar Appearance (321 KB PDF)
- Aspen and Poplar Leaf Spots (203 KB PDF)
- Bacterial Wetwood (176 KB PDF)
- Diagnosing Tree Disorders (77 KB PDF)
- Emerald Ash Borer – 2016 Quick Guide (6 MB PDF)
- Fire Blight (125 KB PDF)
- Gypsy Moth (613 KB PDF)
- Gypsy Moth in Colorado – Identification of Insects and Damage of Similar Appearance (537 KB PDF)
- Landowner Guide to Living with Bark Beetles (2.7 MB PDF)
- Magnesium Chloride Toxicity in Trees (1.2 MB PDF)
- Shade Tree Borers (244 KB PDF)
- Thousand Cankers Disease of Black Walnut (335 KB PDF)
- Walnut Twig Beetle and Thousand Cankers Disease of Black Walnut (487 KB PDF)
Trees
- Aspen Seed Collections Guide (757 KB PDF)
- Fruits of Your Labor: A Cookbook for Windbreak Fruits (532 KB PDF)
- Planting Guide (51 KB PDF)
- Species Suitability Guide (55 KB PDF)
- Trees for Conservation: A Buyer’s Guide (1.8 MB PDF)
- Trees for Conservation: Planning, Planting & Care (1.8 MB PDF)
- Colorado Native Tree Cards (2.2 MB PDF)
- Colorado Native Tree Guide (268 KB PDF)
- Drought-Tolerant Trees for Colorado Landscapes (208 KB PDF)
- Living Snow Fences: Protection That Just Keeps Growing (5.3 MB PDF)
- Native Shrubs for Colorado Landscapes (1 MB PDF)
- Native Trees for Colorado Landscapes (4.5 MB PDF)
- Recommended Trees for Colorado’s Front Range Communities (232 KB PDF)
- Recommended Trees for Plains Communities of Northeastern Colorado (252 KB PDF)
- Recommended Trees for Plains Communities of Southeastern Colorado (895 KB PDF)
- Species Suitability Guide (55 KB PDF)
- Xeriscaping: Trees & Shrubs (41 KB PDF)
- Caring for Storm-Damaged Trees (Quick Guide) (693 KB PDF)
- Deciduous Trees (Large) (56 KB PDF)
- Deciduous Trees (Small) (49 KB PDF)
- Evergreen Trees (116 KB PDF)
- Fall and Winter Watering (1.5 MB PDF)
- Healthy Roots & Healthy Trees (273 KB PDF)
- Protecting Trees During Construction (84 KB PDF)
- Pruning Cuts (181 KB PDF)
- Pruning Evergreens (91 KB PDF)
- Pruning Mature Shade Trees (338 KB PDF)
- The Science of Planting Trees (464 KB PDF)
- Tree Placement: Right Plant, Right Place (255 KB PDF)
- Tree Selection: Right Plant, Right Place (62 KB PDF)
- Trees for Conservation: Planning, Planting & Caring (1.8 MB PDF)
Wildfire Mitigation & Education
- Home Ignition Zone Guide (2.7 MB PDF) New 2021 – replaces 2012-1 Quick Guide Protecting Your Home From Wildfire
- Fire-Resistant Landscaping (192 KB PDF)
- FireWise Plant Materials (278 KB) – This publication is being reviewed and updated.
- Cheatgrass and Wildfire (336 KB PDF)
- Grass Seed Mixes to Reduce Wildfire Hazard (150 KB PDF)
- Wildfire & Insurance (2.2 MB PDF)
- Colorado Fire Ecology – produced by the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute
- FireWise Construction: Site Design & Building Materials – 2012 (1.3 MB PDF)
- Community Guide to Preparing & Implementing a CWPP – 2008 (8.6 MB PDF)
- Community Wildfire Protection Plan Evaluation Guide (809 KB PDF)
- Community Wildfire Protection Planning: HFRA and Beyond (1.5 MB PPT)
- Community Wildfire Protection Plans: Guidelines for Implementation (4.1 MB PDF)
- CWPP Briefing Paper – May 11, 2005 (48 KB PDF)
- CWPP Minimum Standards – REVISED 2022 (75 KB PDF)
- Fuelbreak Guidelines for Forested Subdivisions & Communities (611 KB PDF)
- Leaders Guide for Developing a CWPP (209 KB PDF)
- Preparing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan – Handbook (662 KB PDF)
- Colorado Wildfire Risk Assesment & Portal (CO-WRAP) (3.3 MB PDF)
- Colorado Post-Fire Playbook (13.1 MB PDF)
- Insects and Diseases Associated with Forest Fires (347 KB PDF)
- Replanting in Burn Areas: Tips for Safety and Success (730 KB PDF)
- Soil Erosion Control after Wildfire (6 MB PDF)
- Vegetative Recovery after Wildfire (188 KB PDF)
- Restoring Colorado’s Forests Fund (200 KB PDF)
- Aspen (939 KB PDF)
- Douglas-fir (586 KB PDF)
- Gambel Oak and Serviceberry (865 KB PDF)
- Piñon Pine-Juniper (888 KB PDF)
- Ponderosa and Lodgepole Pine (896 KB PDF)
For Homeowners & Landowners
- Colorado’s Forest Stewardship Program Brochure (458 KB PDF)
- Forest Ag Brochure (350 KB PDF)
- Landowner Assistance Programs in Colorado (57 KB PDF)
- Landowner Guide to Living with Bark Beetles (2.7 MB PDF)
- Landowners Guide to Thinning (1.6 MB PDF)
- Landowning Colorado Style (3.4 MB PDF)
- Choosing a Forestry Contractor and Consultant (282 KB PDF)
- Colorado Forest Road Field Handbook (11.4 MB PDF)
- Mastication Operational Guidelines (234 KB PDF)
- Home Ignition Zone Guide (2.7 MB PDF) New 2021 – replaces 2012-1 Quick Guide Protecting Your Home From Wildfire
- Cheatgrass and Wildfire (336 KB PDF)
- Fire-Resistant Landscaping (192 KB PDF)
- FireWise Plant Materials (278 KB) – This publication is being reviewed and updated.
- Forest Home Fire Safety (349 KB PDF)
- Grass Seed Mixes to Reduce Wildfire Hazard (150 KB PDF)
- Wildfire & Insurance – (1.9 MB PDF)
- Colorado Native Tree Cards (2.2 MB PDF)
- Colorado Native Tree Guide (268 KB PDF)
- Drought-Tolerant Trees for Colorado Landscapes (208 KB PDF)
- Living Snow Fences: Protection That Just Keeps Growing (5.3 MB PDF)
- Native Shrubs for Colorado Landscapes (1 MB PDF)
- Native Trees for Colorado Landscapes (4.5 MB PDF)
- Recommended Trees for Colorado’s Front Range Communities (232 KB PDF)
- Recommended Trees for Plains Communities of Northeastern Colorado (228 KB PDF)
- Recommended Trees for Plains Communities of Southeastern Colorado (895 KB PDF)
- Species Suitability Guide (55 KB PDF)
- Xeriscaping: Trees & Shrubs (41 KB PDF)
- Caring for Storm-Damaged Trees (Quick Guide) (693 KB PDF)
- Deciduous (Large) Trees (56 KB PDF)
- Deciduous (Small) Trees (49 KB PDF)
- Evergreen Trees (116 KB PDF)
- Healthy Roots & Healthy Trees (273 KB PDF)
- Protecting Trees During Construction (84 KB PDF)
- Pruning Cuts (181 KB PDF)
- Pruning Evergreens (91 KB PDF)
- Pruning Mature Shade Trees (338 KB PDF)
- The Science of Planting Trees (464 KB PDF)
- Tree Placement: Right Plant, Right Place (255 KB PDF)
- Tree Selection: Right Plant, Right Place (62 KB PDF)
- Trees for Conservation: Planning, Planting & Caring (1.8 MB PDF)
For Communities
- Caring for Storm-Damaged Trees Quick Guide (5.3 MB PDF)
- Drought-Tolerant Trees for Colorado Landscapes (208 KB PDF)
- Fall and Winter Watering (1.5 MB PDF)
- Growth Rates of Common Tree Species in Westminster, Colorado (1 MB PDF)
- Recommended Trees for Colorado Front Range Communities (232 KB PDF)
- Recommended Trees for Plains Communities of Northeastern Colorado (228 KB PDF)
- Recommended Trees for Plains Communities of Southeastern Colorado (895 KB PDF)
- Recommended Trees for the San Luis Valley Communities of Colorado (935 KB PDF)
- Community Guide to Preparing & Implementing a CWPP — 2008 (8.6 MB PDF)
- Community Wildfire Protection Plan Evaluation Guide (809 KB PDF)
- Community Wildfire Protection Planning: HFRA and Beyond (1.5 MB PPT)
- Community Wildfire Protection Plans: Guidelines for Implementation (4.1 MB PDF)
- CWPP Briefing Paper – May 11, 2005 (48 KB PDF)
- CWPP Minimum Standards – REVISED 2022 (75 KB PDF)
- Leaders Guide for Developing a CWPP (209 KB PDF)
- Preparing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan – Handbook (662 KB PDF)
- Colorado Wildfire Risk Assesment & Portal (CO-WRAP) (3.3 MB PDF)
- Are You Plains FireWise? Notebook (280 KB PDF)
- Drought-Tolerant Trees for Colorado Landscapes (208 KB PDF)
- Living Snow Fences: Protection That Just Keeps Growing (5.3 MB PDF)
- Recommended Trees for Colorado Front Range Communities (232 KB PDF)
- Recommended Trees for Plains Communities of Northeastern Colorado (252 KB PDF)
- Recommended Trees for Plains Communities of Southeastern Colorado (895 KB PDF)
- Trees for Conservation – Planning, Planting and Care (1.8 MB PDF)
- A Year in the Life of a Mountain Pine Beetle by: Buford the Mountain Pine Beetle (1.2 MB PDF)
- Buford the Mountain Pine Beetle Coloring Book (1.7 MB PDF)
- Colorado Native Tree Cards (2.2 MB PDF)
- Colorado Native Tree Guide(268 KB PDF)
- Colorado Reader – Agriculture in the Classroom: Colorado Fires! (1.4 MB PDF)
- The Role of Wildland Fire in Our Forests (1.7 MB PDF)
- Woody Debris: Make Your Home Fire Wise Coloring Book (433 KB PDF)
- Lodgepole Pine and Beetle Kill-Related Blue Stain (1.9 MB PDF)
- For additional publications, please visit the CoWood program on our website.
Archived Publications
- Facts at a Glance: 2016 (417 KB PDF)
- Facts at a Glance: 2015 (255 KB PDF)
- Facts at a Glance: 2014 (287 KB PDF)
- 2019 Report on the Health of Colorado’s Forests (3.5 MB PDF)
- 2018 Report on the Health of Colorado’s Forests (2 MB PDF)
- 2017 Report on the Health of Colorado’s Forests (2.2 MB PDF)
- 2016 Report on the Health of Colorado’s Forests (4.0 MB PDF)
- 2015 Report on the Health of Colorado’s Forests (3.0 MB PDF)
- 2014 Report on the Health of Colorado’s Forests (2.6 MB PDF); Map: 2014 Insect & Disease Activity in Colorado Forests (178 KB PDF); Map: 1996-2014 Forest Insect & Disease Progression in Colorado Map (167 KB PDF)
- 2014 Colorado Forest Insect and Disease Update – A Supplement to the 2014 Forest Health Report (1.3 MB PDF)
- 2013 Report on the Health of Colorado’s Forests (2.1 MB PDF); Map: 2013 Insect & Disease Activity in Colorado Forests (154 KB PDF); Map: 1996-2013 Forest Insect & Disease Progression in Colorado Map (180 KB PDF)
- 2013 Colorado Forest Insect and Disease Update – A Supplement to the 2013 Forest Health Report (1.4 MB PDF)
- 2012 Report on the Health of Colorado’s Forests (3.9 MB PDF); Map: 2012 Insect & Disease Activity in Colorado Forests (164 KB PDF); Map: 1996-2012 Progression of Forest Insect & Disease in Colorado (205 KB PDF)
- 2011 Report on the Health of Colorado’s Forests (3.1 MB PDF)
- 2010 Report on the Health of Colorado’s Forests (3.7 MB PDF)
- 2009 Report: The Health of Colorado’s Forests (7.0 MB PDF)
- 2008 Report: The Health of Colorado’s Forests (9.5 MB PDF); Executive Summary (4.5 MB PDF)
- 2007 Report on the Health of Colorado’s Forests (3.4 MB PDF); Wildland-Urban Interface Insert (626 KB PDF)
- 2006 Report on the Health of Colorado’s Forests (2.6 MB PDF)
- 2005 Report on the Health of Colorado’s Forests (7.7 MB PDF)
- 2004 Report on the Health of Colorado’s Forests (2.7 MB PDF)
- 2003 Report on the Health of Colorado’s Forests (1.3 MB PDF)
- 2002 Report on the Health of Colorado’s Forests (1.3 MB PDF)
- 2001 Report on the Condition of Colorado’s Forests (1.3 MB PDF)
- Colorado Forest Health Report 1992-1995 Baseline Assessment (3.9 MB PDF)
- Colorado Forestry Best Management Practices: Forest Stewardship Guidelines for Water Quality Protection – 2014 Field Monitoring Report (600 KB PDF)
- Colorado Forestry Best Management Practices: Forest Stewardship Guidelines for Water Quality Protection – 2012 Field Audit Report (419 KB PDF)
- Colorado Forestry Best Management Practices: Forest Stewardship Guidelines for Water Quality – 2008 Field Audit Report (909 KB PDF)