Colorado Parks and Wildlife seeks public feedback on 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan, participate in Colorado wildlife conservation
Bridget O'Rourke
Statewide Public Information Officer
720-219-2919
[email protected]
DENVER — Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is seeking public feedback on the conservation priorities for species in the 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan.
State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAP) are plans that guide the conservation of a state’s most vulnerable species and the habitats they depend on. An updated SWAP is required every 10 years for federal funding eligibility via the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants (SWG) program. These plans have eight required elements that have remained the same since the program’s inception 25 years ago.
CPW is working closely with the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) on the development of the SWAP, and the draft SWAP is due to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in September 2025.
Your feedback is crucial and we want to hear from you. Public feedback is being accepted online via the EngageCPW website from July 8 to Aug. 8, 2025. This is the fourth and final opportunity for public comment on the draft 2025 SWAP.
Your engagement is not just important, it's powerful. Public engagement is vital to the success of the SWAP because it helps ensure that the species included in the updated plan are consistent with the expectations of Colorado’s wildlife conservation community and stakeholders. Your input helps manage and support Colorado's biodiversity, shaping conservation and management measures that protect these critical species.
Your involvement matters. Involving the public in the SWAP process helps CPW ensure that decisions reflect diverse perspectives and needs, leading to more effective and sustainable outcomes.
“This type of public engagement helps our agency increase awareness about the importance of wildlife conservation projects, align conservation priorities among stakeholders, and improve access to the SWAP development process and its implementation,” said State Wildlife Action Plan Coordinator Kacie Miller.
CPW is a leader in wildlife conservation, having expanded from managing 960 species to over 96,000 by taking the lead to conserve Colorado’s native invertebrates and rare plants.
State Wildlife Action Plans
State Wildlife Action Plans are designed to provide a roadmap for reducing threats, enhancing habitat and increasing understanding to benefit our species that are most in need of conservation. Decades of work to secure dedicated and sustained funding for the conservation of the full array of fish and wildlife species have yet to yield permanent funding. However, about 25 years ago, Congress created the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants (SWG) program. SWG employs a two-pronged approach for funding and planning, focusing on work that addresses species of greatest conservation need.
Colorado’s 2025 SWAP Guiding Philosophy and Purpose
Colorado’s SWAP history mirrors what has occurred nationwide. CPW’s first plan was produced in 2005 with the first revision published in 2015. Each revision of the SWAP aims to build upon the previous one, incorporating new knowledge and strategies to make it more applicable and impactful. The 2015 SWAP has been considered a critical resource for understanding which species in the state are most vulnerable and the potential threats and actions associated with their conservation. The 2025 SWAP, in this context, represents the latest and most comprehensive effort to guide wildlife conservation efforts in Colorado, building on the successes and lessons learned from the previous plans.
The 2025 SWAP will be elevated in CPW programs and promote collective action for SGCN through increased use as a “Call to Action” with our partners. The 2025 SWAP will serve as a proactive planning document that drives CPW’s work, leverages other plans, work groups, and data, and is structured to allow for the assessment of our successes and challenges over time.
For more information on CPW’s wildlife conservation work and resources, visit:
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 43 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
DISCLAIMER: The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) website maintains press releases containing historical information that may no longer be accurate. Press releases are dated, which should be noted to determine whether the information provided is current. Please review our current regulations and brochures for up-to-date information.