Established by statute in 1977, the Colorado Natural Areas Program is a statewide program focused on the recognition and protection of areas that contain at least one unique or high-quality natural feature of statewide significance.
The Colorado Natural Areas Program, working with interested landowners and dedicated volunteers, helps to conserve Colorado’s best places well into the future. To date, more than 250 rare, threatened or endangered species and communities are monitored and cooperatively protected at 96 designated sites in Colorado, with more in the works. Natural areas are found on public or private land and are designated through land management agreements with landowners. CNAP is the only statewide program within Colorado that provides a system for recognizing these unique natural places.
