Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy
Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy ensures a future where our outdoors, people, community character and ways of life endure for generations to come.
Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy
Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy ensures a future where our outdoors, people, community character and ways of life endure for generations to come.
About the Strategy
Thriving natural environments and amazing outdoor recreation experiences are what make Colorado special. But our outdoors are facing pressures from growing populations, human disturbance, climate change, wildfire and drought. From the Western Slope to the Eastern Plains, many communities feel they are at an important crossroads in their ability to:
- Connect people to outdoor experiences and opportunities.
- Protect, conserve, and restore aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity and functioning ecosystems.
- Keep agricultural lands in production.
- Meet or grow demand for outdoor recreation.
- Identify the highest priorities on the landscape for both conservation and outdoor recreation.
- Support healthy economies, including outdoor recreation-based economies.
- Connect Tribal and Indigenous people to lands and waters and protect their cultural resources.
- Protect and enhance the resilience of lands, waters, communities, and outdoor recreation amenities to climate change, drought, and wildfire.
- Sustain community character and ways of life.
Read Colorado's Outdoors Strategy
That’s why Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy was created – to advance coordination, tools and funding to align, prioritize and implement strategic actions on the landscape for conservation, outdoor recreation and climate resilience. The strategy champions shared goals, strengthens partnerships, and provides data, mapping tools and resources to help inform decisions regionally and statewide.
DownloadColorado’s Outdoors Strategy
The Strategy is a collaborative vision uniting public and private partners and stakeholders to advance conservation, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience across the state.
Resource Hub
Discover a variety of data, mapping tools and resources housed in the Resource Hub for Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy. These tools and resources are designed to support interdisciplinary and inclusive planning processes at all scales.
Snapshot of Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy
Learn more about how the objectives of Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy will drive success of its three primary goals. Learn more about 33 actions committed by coordinating partners, including Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), the Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office (OREC) and the Governor’s office.
72%
of Coloradans participate in outdoor recreation at least once per week
48.2K
trail miles in Colorado
$65.8
billion – total economic output of outdoor recreation in Colorado
27-31%
of high-quality conservation lands are in good or very good protection status statewide
960+
wildlife species live in Colorado
Climate-Resilient Conservation and Restoration
Conservation and restoration of lands and waters help wildlife and biodiversity thrive; habitats are resilient and connected; communities benefit from healthy ecosystems and agricultural lands.
Conservation
Increase the conservation of public and private lands and waters with high biodiversity, connectivity and climate resilience while supporting communities and agricultural lands.
Restoration
Increase restoration of public and private lands and waters with high biodiversity, connectivity and climate resilience, including areas most impacted by increasing populations, human disturbance and climate change.
Wildlife and Biodiversity
Enhance habitat connectivity and species recovery on public and private lands and waters for wildlife and biodiversity.
Exceptional and Sustainable Outdoor Recreation
A diversity of high-quality outdoor experiences are accessible, equitable, and inclusive; management and stewardship enhance benefits for and minimize impacts to people, landscapes, and communities.
Experiences and Opportunities
Enhance a broad range of exceptional outdoor recreation experiences, including close-to-home and statewide opportunities that meet diverse needs and interests.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Increase the accessibility and inclusivity of outdoor experiences and opportunities for diverse and disproportionately impacted communities and individuals.
Management and Stewardship
Enhance management capacity and foster stewardship to support exceptional outdoor experiences and opportunities that are sustainable and resilient, avoid and minimize environmental impacts, and respect people and communities.
Coordinated Planning and Funding
Planning and implementation are interdisciplinary; supported by robust funding and capacity; inclusive of diverse perspectives and communities; and drive meaningful action for the outdoors.
Strategic Funding
Strengthen strategic funding statewide for conservation, outdoor recreation and climate resilience.
Coordinated Planning
Catalyze and support new and existing conservation, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience planning efforts in alignment with regional and statewide goals.
Data and Tools
Create and sustain data, mapping tools and resources to inform planning, priorities and management for the outdoors.
Success Stories
Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy will ensure a future where our outdoors, people, community character, and ways of life endure for generations to come. Read about how regional partnerships are supporting thriving people, landscapes, and wildlife statewide.
Resources
About Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy
Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy advances coordination, tools, and funding to align, prioritize, and implement strategic actions on the landscape for conservation, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience. The Strategy champions shared goals, strengthens partnerships, catalyzes statewide leadership, and amplifies regionally rooted efforts to address significant and urgent pressures to the outdoors.
Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy advances coordination, tools and funding to align, prioritize and implement strategic actions on the landscape for conservation, outdoor recreation and climate resilience. The strategy champions shared goals, strengthens partnerships, and provides data, mapping tools and resources to inform decisions regionally and statewide.
Discover a variety of data, mapping tools and resources housed in the Resource Hub for Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy, including a data dashboard, plan library, mapping tools, Framework for Tribal Collaboration, EDI resource guide and more. These tools and resources are designed to support integrated and inclusive planning processes at all scales.
The Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnerships Initiative is a long-term statewide vision and plan to provide all Coloradans with sustainable and equitable access to outdoor recreation. With 21 funded coalitions, the Regional Partnerships Initiative covers about 79% of Colorado, offering new and innovative approaches to conserving Colorado’s outdoors for future generations.
The Colorado Outdoor Partnership believes leaders across the State must collaborate and innovate to ensure our private and public lands and water remain healthy to support our diverse wildlife, outdoor and agricultural heritage and economic wellbeing.
Every five years, CPW leads the development of a comprehensive outdoor recreation plan to maintain eligibility for funding through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and to inform additional investments from other federal, state, local and private programs. This plan reflects the shared vision and commitment of Colorado outdoor partners to advance recreation enjoyment and conservation of Colorado’s outdoor resources.
Partners
Get Involved
Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy supports all who love the outdoors in working together to achieve climate-resilient conservation and restoration and exceptional and sustainable outdoor recreation. Everyone can use the Strategy’s vision and goals as ‘North Stars’ to champion our outdoors and coordinate efforts to achieve key outcomes for Colorado. Sign up to learn more about how you can get involved.
Stay Informed
Sign up for Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s newsletter to receive updates on Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy. Under “Email Updates” select “Partners and Regional Partnerships Initiative Newsletter.
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