Durango Field Office – Forest Management & Stewardship
When a forest is healthy it is resilient to negative changes that occur; forest components include trees, shrubs, grasses, soil and wildlife. Is the forest you live in resilient to heavy rains, bark beetles or wildfire? A healthy forest protects water quality, wildlife and the beautiful view we tend to take for granted.
We provide sound forestry recommendations and assistance to private landowners, communities and cooperating agencies in order to improve forest conditions and amenities such as tree health, wildlife habitat, soil and water conservation, forest products and recreational opportunities.
We accomplish this through a variety of forest management services such as: field visits, forest inventory and mapping, tree planting plans, insect and disease surveys, assistance with forest improvement projects such as timber or other forest product sales and much more. Field visits and other services require a fee.
Please see the CSFS Southwest Forestry Contractor/Service Provider List (74 KB PDF) for a list of consultants in the area that provide forest management services.
Forestry Best Management Practices to Protect Water Quality in Colorado – 2010 (461 KB PDF).
Programs for Landowners
American Tree Farm System
The Colorado Tree Farm Program is part of the American Tree Farm System (ATFS), a program of the American Forest Foundation. The ATFS is a privately funded, national tree-growing effort that encourages forest management on private lands.
Their mission is To promote the growing of renewable forest resources on private lands while protecting environmental benefits and increasing public understanding of all benefits of productive forestry. Private landowners can utilize a local, state and national support network to address issues important to private lands.
For more information about Colorado Tree Farmers, please visit their website.
Conservation Seedling Tree Program
Our seedling tree program encourages landowners to plant new forests and windbreaks that reduce soil erosion, protect homes, cropland, livestock and highways, and enhance wildlife habitat.
Environmental Quality Incentive Program
The Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) provides a source of funding and technical assistance through the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to support forest management activities. For NRCS office contact information, please visit our Partners section.
Forest Ag Program
The statute allows certain forest lands similar property tax valuation as that of traditional agricultural lands. Forest landowners voluntarily participate in the Forest Ag Program and must fulfill certain requirements annually for eligibility.
Electronic forms are available on the CSFS Forest Ag Program web page.
Forest Legacy Program
The Forest Legacy Program is a federally funded and state-administered program that supports efforts to protect private forest lands that are environmentally, economically and socially critical.
Forest Stewardship Program
The Forest Stewardship Program provides you with information, education and technical assistance. It encourages long-term stewardship of private forest lands and is designed to assist landowners with more actively managing their forest and related resources.