Colorado Parks and Wildlife announces the 2018 Request for Proposals for the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Program (CWHP). The CWHP is a state-wide program that supports CPW’s mission by offering funding opportunities to private landowners who wish to voluntarily protect important wildlife habitats on their property, and/or provide wildlife-related recreational access to the public.
The CWHP is an incentive-based and voluntary program which uses Conservation Easements, Access Easements, and in limited circumstances, Fee Title purchases to accomplish strategic wildlife conservation goals and/or public access goals. Priority is given to proposals for Conservation Easements and Public Access Easements over Fee Title purchases (per CPW Policy and Title 33-4-102.7 C.R.S.).
Funding for the 2018 cycle is approximately $11 million and is made possible through a conservation partnership with Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) and from revenue generated through the sale of habitat stamps.
To Apply:
Big game winter range and migration corridors
Protecting habitat for species of concern (specifically those Species of Greatest Conservation Need, as identified in the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Statewide Action Plan)
Riparian areas and wetlands
Landscape-scale parcels and parcels that provide connectivity
All application materials, including the Proposal Instructions and the Proposal Form, are available now on the agency’s CWHP webpage: http://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/LandWaterCWHP.aspx.
Proposals will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Friday, June 15.
Please email completed proposals to Wildlife.RealEstateProposals@state.co.us. You will receive a confirmation email acknowledging receipt of your proposal.
A landowner may request a land trust, local government, or other conservation organization (collectively, “third party,”) to submit a proposal on his/her behalf. If the proposal involves a conservation easement to be held by a third party, the entity must be qualified to hold conservations easements under federal and state law.
Proposals are scored and ranked through a rigorous review process to evaluate strategic conservation impacts, biological significance, public benefits, and project feasibility. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact their local CPW Area Wildlife Manager or his/her designee for assistance describing the wildlife and habitat values accurately and to discuss the merits of their proposal.
Proposals are awarded funding based on approval by the Commission. Applicants will be notified of the Commission’s final award decisions following the November 2018 Commission meeting.
Originally posted at Alamosa News Daily Courier on THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2018.
