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Private Lands Conservation

The majority of Colorado is privately owned. These lands include family farms and ranches that support prime farmland, wildlife habitat, water resources, and scenic vistas. Because of their richness, they deliver many benefits to Coloradans. Private land owners make conservation a priority for many reasons, and often it is to preserve the natural heritage of their property for current and future generations. CNHP has worked with private land owners for as long as we have existed and we offer a wide range of services that support private lands conservation in Colorado.

We can help with:

  • Species Surveys and Bioblitzes
  • Restoration and Monitoring
  • Conservation Planning
  • Conservation Easement Mapping
  • GIS Services and Database Development

Featured Projects

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CNHP - Rifle Ranch Restoration

Rifle Creek, a tributary to the Colorado River, runs through the 122 acre Rifle Ranch and the city of Rifle in Garfield County, Colorado. Since 2016, the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) has worked with Rifle Ranch to enhance the habitat value and ecological condition of the Rifle Creek riparian.

Visit the CNHP - Rifle Ranch Restoration Page

Learn more

Colorado Ownership, Management and Protection map.
Colorado Ownership, Management and Protection map.

COMaP - Colorado Ownership, Management and Protection Database

COMaP is the state’s premier map of protected lands, featuring over 28,000 entries of protected land polygons, each with a suite of attributes such as owner, manager, easement holder, public access, and more. COMaP is served through an online Map Viewer with a backend database that supports user input and custom queries.

Visit the COMaP - Colorado Ownership, Management and Protection Database Page

Learn more

Colorado's Return on Investments in Conservation Easements Cover Page
Colorado's Return on Investments in Conservation Easements Cover Page

A CSU Study: Colorado’s Return on Investments in Conservation Easements

The state of Colorado offers property tax credit incentives for private land owners who voluntarily protect the natural heritage of their land using conservation easements. What do Colorado citizens gain from this foregone tax revenue? CSU researchers explore the conservation values and economic benefits of the Conservation Easement Tax Credit Program.

Visit the COMaP - Colorado Ownership, Management and Protection Database Page

Learn more

CNHP element occurrences
CNHP element occurrences

CNHP Element Occurrence Biotics Database of Rare Plants, Animals and Natural Plant Communities

CNHP's database delivers a wealth of information on Colorado's biological diversity, including the location and quality of rare and imperiled plants, animals, and natural plant communities on CNHP's tracking list.

Biotics - Learn more
Working with private land owners.
Working with private land owners.

Countywide Surveys of Critical Biological Resources

Since the mid-1990s, CNHP has conducted surveys to locate and track biologically significant plants, animals, and natural plant communities.

Visit the Countywide Surveys of Critical Biological Resources Page

Learn more

Pitkin County Bioblitz
Pitkin County Bioblitz

Bioblitzes

A BioBlitz is an intensive period of biological surveying in which teams of scientists, students, teachers, and other community members work together to find, identify, and record all the living species within a designated area.

Visit the Bioblitzes Page

Learn more

Thunderstorm on privately conserved lands in Southeastern Colorado.
Thunderstorm on privately conserved lands in Southeastern Colorado.

Conservation Easement Study Database

CNHP’s custom database solution to manage conservation easement data in southeast Colorado.

Visit the Conservation Easement Study Database Page

Learn more

Smitherman Conservation Easement in Larimer County, Colorado.
Smitherman Conservation Easement in Larimer County, Colorado.

Conservation Easement Monitoring and Baseline Reporting

CNHP scientists perform easement monitoring on a number of ranches in Colorado. We are also engaged with multiple partners to create collaborative solutions for the private lands conservation community. Watch this space for news about conservation easement baseline reporting projects to come!

Visit the Conservation Easement Monitoring and Baseline Reporting Page

Learn more

Our Services

Database Development
GIS Analysis & Modeling
Mapping
Surveys & Inventories
Monitoring & Assessment Conservation Planning
Private Lands Conservation

Related Topics

Ecology
Wetlands
Plants
Animals
Climate Change
Education
Invasive Species

Web Projects

  • CODEX - Colorado’s Conservation Data Explorer
  • Rare Plant Guide Online
  • Colorado Wetland Info Center
  • COMaP - Colorado Protected Lands
  • Colorado Bat Working Group
  • STReaMS - Endangered Fishes Database
  • Colorado Native Plant Database Data Portal

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  • About Us
    ▼
    • About Us
      ▼
      • Biennial Report
      • Strategic Plan
    • Conserving Biodiversity
    • Contact Us
    • Staff Directory
    • Careers
      ▼
      • Employment
      • Internship
      • Volunteer
    • Meetings
    • The NatureServe Network
    • Partners
  • Our Work
    ▼
    • Ecology
    • Wetlands
    • Plants
    • Animals
    • Climate Change
    • Education
    • Invasive Species
    • Statewide Natural Heritage Survey
  • Our Services
    ▲
    • Database Development
    • GIS Analysis & Modeling
    • Mapping
    • Surveys & Inventories
    • Monitoring & Assessment
    • Conservation Planning
    • Private Lands Conservation
  • Our Data
    ▼
    • About CNHP Data
    • Request Data
    • Contribute Data
    • Download Data
    • Tracking Lists
    • Potential Conservation Areas
    • Help & Documentation
  • Maps
    ▼
    • (CODEX) Conservation Data Explorer
    • CNHP Spatial Layers
    • Wetlands Mapper
    • COMaP
  • Library
    ▼
    • Reports
    • Tracking Lists
    • Potential Conservation Areas
    • Field Guides
      ▼
      • Rare Plant Guide
      • Colorado Wetland Field Guides
  • Blog
  • Use CODEX Conservation Data Explorer

  • Donate Now
  • About Us
    ▼
    • About Us
      ▼
      • Biennial Report
      • Strategic Plan
    • Conserving Biodiversity
    • Contact Us
    • Staff Directory
    • Careers
      ▼
      • Employment
      • Internship
      • Volunteer
    • Meetings
    • The NatureServe Network
    • Partners
  • Our Work
    ▼
    • Ecology
    • Wetlands
    • Plants
    • Animals
    • Climate Change
    • Education
    • Invasive Species
    • Statewide Natural Heritage Survey
  • Our Services
    ▼
    • Database Development
    • GIS Analysis & Modeling
    • Mapping
    • Surveys & Inventories
    • Monitoring & Assessment
    • Conservation Planning
    • Private Lands Conservation
  • Our Data
    ▼
    • About CNHP Data
    • Request Data
    • Contribute Data
    • Download Data
    • Tracking Lists
    • Potential Conservation Areas
    • Help & Documentation
  • Maps
    ▼
    • (CODEX) Conservation Data Explorer
    • CNHP Spatial Layers
    • Wetlands Mapper
    • COMaP
  • Library
    ▼
    • Reports
    • Tracking Lists
    • Potential Conservation Areas
    • Field Guides
      ▼
      • Rare Plant Guide
      • Colorado Wetland Field Guides
  • Blog
  • Use CODEX Conservation Data Explorer

  • Donate Now