Aaron Rector, Forester, CSFS Cañon City District, gathers forest inventory data. Photo: Kathryn Hardgrave
Aaron Rector, Forester, CSFS Cañon City District, gathers forest inventory data. Photo: Kathryn Hardgrave

A Year of Major Milestones in Colorado & Across the U.S.

2015 marked major milestones for forest conservation and management in Colorado and across the U.S. The Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) celebrated its 60th anniversary – providing six decades of timely, relevant forestry information to Colorado.

The CSFS and USDA Forest Service (USFS) also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the 1990 Farm Bill, which significantly enhanced the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act, enabling the USFS to provide broad financial and technical assistance to states and private landowners.

The USFS cooperative forestry programs authorized in the 1990 Farm Bill – Forest Legacy, Forest Stewardship and Urban & Community Forestry – are delivered in close partnership with state forestry agencies and support the health of both rural and urban forests.

25 Years of Urban Forestry Funding in Colorado

We look to the cooperative forestry programs – and our partnership with the Colorado State Forest Service – to turn challenges into opportunities.

Forest insects and diseases, wildfires, floods, urban development, and other factors have changed the landscape. We are pleased to work in partnership with the CSFS to address these challenges and to promote restoration and resilience that benefits both ecosystems and communities.

Rick Cooksey, Director
State & Private Forestry and Tribal Relations
Rocky Mountain Region USDA Forest Service

To date, the Forest Legacy Program has protected more than 18,000 acres of Colorado forestlands from development – lands that are environmentally, economically and socially critical. The Forest Stewardship Program allows the CSFS to continually work with private landowners to help manage the approximately 6 million acres of private forestland in the state.

Urban & Community Forestry continues to be a banner program in Colorado, in CSFS districts that serve populated areas on the Front Range, Eastern Plains and Western Slope.

Our Community Forestry Program has helped communities large and small develop and sustain comprehensive tree planting and care programs all across the state.

It has helped bring awareness that communities have forests too, which enhance the quality of life in our cities and towns.

Keith Wood
CSFS Community Forestry Program Manager