Forty Forever: Seeding the Future

A critical time for conservation, A critical time for the Land Trust 

Western Colorado finds itself at a time of great urgency. Warmer, drier conditions, development pressure, dramatic increases in recreational use, and drought place unprecedented pressure on our landscapes. However, this is also a time of great opportunity. Heightened awareness of the threats to our environment and massive public investments in conservation make this a time of extraordinary possibility. 

Recognizing that it must step up to meet the moment, the Land Trust is launching the Forty Forever Campaign, a $1.8M effort to expand CWLT’s ability to serve the community and increase its impact. The campaign grew out of in-depth planning and represents an investment in Western Colorado’s future. Forty Forever will enable the Land Trust to seize opportunities and address urgent needs.  

Impact & Use of Funds 

Your support will make a lasting impact across the region through investments in:   

Land Conservation – There is greater landowner interest in protecting their property than any time in decades.  From the Grand Valley to Red Mountain Pass, the flanks of the La Sal Mountains to Blue Mesa Reservoir, Your investment will help the Land Trust expand its ability to protect the West Slope’s most important wildlife habitat, farm and ranchland, scenic open space, and lands providing public access and outdoor recreation.   

Restoration & Resilience – With over 128,000 conserved acres spanning seven counties, CWLT has a unique opportunity to improve habitat across the region and make an impact at scale. By working with landowners and partners, CWLT can help make the region’s lands and water healthier and more resilient. This work is more important than ever as warmer, drier conditions threaten the region’s habitat and communities.   

Water – Water scarcity presents perhaps the greatest threat to the region. In response, CWLT is developing a comprehensive Water Strategy and Implementation Plan that will focus efforts on both new conservation acquisitions and restoration & resilience projects in areas already protected from development. 

Community Connections: The Land Trust believes every community member should have easy access to nature.  CWLT will acquire strategic parcels of land that expand access to outdoor recreation, work in partnership to develop trails that connect neighborhoods to public lands, and collaborate with others to engage youth and adults in stewardship of our natural resources.  In Delta, the Land Trust will work with the County to create a new boat launch on the Gunnison River.  

Organizational Readiness & Regional Capacity – The Land Trust is making critical investments in staffing, technology, and systems, all focused on increasing its ability to deliver results.  New staff will be hired, a regional office opened in Montrose, technology will be acquired, and management systems will be improved. This infrastructure is essential to the organization’s ability to deliver on its mission.