From the Director
Dear Friends,
On the cover is an image of a fen wetland in the San Juan Mountains above Silverton. As Coloradans, these places are our backyards and we are fortunate to enjoy the many benefits nature provides. Even as our population grows and our lands are developed, the benefits of nature are still abundant.
The Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) is committed to making sure our children also receive those benefits, from clean water and fresh air, to beautiful views, open spaces, wildlife, and wildflowers. The people of Colorado value these things greatly; for many of us, they are why we are here! Protecting nature’s benefits requires us to be good stewards of the land and protect our inheritance - Colorado’s natural heritage.
CNHP is focused on supporting the stewardship, management, and protection of Colorado’s natural resources. The way we do that is unique, and it starts with data—the raw information that we and our partners use to do science. CNHP collects and carefully curates data on Colorado’s natural resources to understand where species might live, check how they are doing, map priority landscapes for conservation, and many other things. But to get from data to conservation takes a few other really important steps that tend to get overlooked. Science has to be communicated, and it has to help people. It is only through helping people that we can earn trust and respect. Without trust and respect, there cannot be partnerships. Once we are working together in partnerships, we are ready to do the planning that will lead to successful conservation. We are very proud that CNHP is successful in all of these steps.
In 2017, we completed a new five year strategic plan to help guide us through all of these steps. Over the last two years we have connected with hundreds of partners, and thousands of people through our projects, reports, outreach, and teaching. We have supported the career development of many young people with professional roles and training, and are excited to continue to increase our role in helping emerging professionals.
I hope that you enjoy reading about our recent highlights. In an effort to save trees, we explore each topic online. We are very excited about our new digital format. I’d love to hear what you think about it!
Yours truly,
David G. Anderson
Director and Chief Scientist
Project Highlights
Bat Monitoring
Bat Monitoring
Bat Monitoring
Bats are increasingly threatened across North America. CNHP is working with state and federal agencies, private citizens, and recreationists to address survey and monitoring needs of bats in Colorado. We are involved in population surveys, roost monitoring, acoustic monitoring and data processing, and Colorado’s implementation of the North American Bat Monitoring Program. CNHP is working with state and federal agencies, private citizens, and recreationists to address survey and monitoring needs of increasingly threatened bats in Colorado.
Colorado Wetlands Information Center
Colorado Wetlands Information Center
Colorado Wetlands Information Center
Wetlands occupy less than 2% of Colorado’s landscape, but are vital for clean water and healthy wildlife populations. CWIC is a comprehensive online resource for Colorado wetlands and an essential resource for professionals and private citizens interested in Colorado’s natural resources. CWIC is a comprehensive online resource for Colorado wetlands and an essential resource for professionals and private citizens interested in Colorado’s natural resources.
Gunnison Basin Mesic Meadow Restoration
Gunnison Basin Mesic Meadow Restoration
Gunnison Basin Mesic Meadow Restoration
Gunnison Sage Grouse, a federally threatened species, is a sagebrush obligate with a complex life cycle. Wet meadows are critical to successful chick-rearing yet most are compromised due to past disturbances. CNHP is part of the Gunnison Climate Working Group, dedicated to restoring wet meadows using simple hand-built rock or wood structures that reconnect the floodplain. CNHP is part of the Gunnison Climate Working Group, dedicated to restoring wet meadows using simple hand-built rock or wood structures that reconnect the floodplain.
Internships
Internships
Internships
Our home at CSU makes it easy for us to bring student interns into our collaborative, multi-source funded projects. Students learn skills, build resumes, network, and find success under the guidance of our passionate staff mentors. Through the vision and generosity of our donors, we are able to host student internship programs. Our home at CSU makes it easy for us to bring student interns into our collaborative, multi-source funded projects.
Parachute Penstemon Monitoring
Parachute Penstemon Monitoring
Parachute Penstemon Monitoring
Parachute penstemon (Penstemon debilis) is a federally threatened plant species endemic to Garfield County, Colorado, and a Tier 1 species in the 2015 State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) Rare Plant Addendum. CNHP is partnering with the Colorado Natural Areas Program to establish a long-term monitoring plot for Parachute penstemon to meet conservation goals. CNHP is partnering with the Colorado Natural Areas Program to establish a long-term monitoring plot for Parachute penstemon to meet conservation goals.
Private Lands Conservation
Private Lands Conservation
Private Lands Conservation
The majority of Colorado is privately owned. These lands include family farms and ranches that offer prime farmland, wildlife habitat, access to water resources, and scenic vistas. CNHP has worked with private land owners for as long as we have existed and we offer many services that support private lands conservation in Colorado. CNHP has worked with private land owners for as long as we have existed and we offer many services that support private lands conservation in Colorado.
Photo Credits:
Top photo (Fen wetland in the San Juan Mountains): Joanna Lemly; Project highlights clockwise from left: Jeremy Siemers, Michael Menefee, Renee Rondeau, Michael Menefee, Jill Handwerk, Vincent Del Conte; Bottom photo (Kira Paik, a recent CSU graduate and former Siegele intern): Toryn Walton
