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Disappearing Landscapes
The Importance of the Next Decade
Colorado Landscapes at Risk: The Challenges
Growth Each day, the pressures increase on Colorado’s farms and ranches, wildlife habitat, river corridors, open spaces, and scenic vistas. Working farms and ranches are sold and developed into subdivisions and ranchettes. Development in our mountain valleys is increasing and sprawl continues along the Front Range. Colorado was the third fastest growing state in the 1990’s and is now growing at twice the national average. By 2030, our state’s population is projected to reach 7 million, an increase of 63% from the 2000 census. As a result of this growth, tens of thousands of acres of open space are lost to development each year.
Inadequate Funding Nonprofit organizations and public agencies have identified $1.1 billion in land conservation needs over the next five years. Public and private sources will yield one-fourth of the needed funds, leaving a $642 million gap between the needs and available funding.
Several important gaps continue to limit the pace and effectiveness of conservation in Colorado:
- Lack of public funding at state and local levels. In the next 10 years, there remains a $1.2 billion shortfall in conservation funding.
- Insufficient capacity among existing conservation groups to meet the substantial challenges.
- Untapped private funding and lack of strategic focus with existing private funding.
A Decade to Make a Difference
Timing is critical. Colorado is developing at a rapid rate, impacting the remaining unprotected natural landscapes. CCT was created to address this urgent issue by increasing the funding, pace and effectiveness of land conservation in Colorado. We are achieving this by:
- expanding funding and tools,
- increasing the effectiveness and capacity of conservation organizations,
- broadening awareness of statewide conservation needs and opportunities, and
- focusing funders on those areas of Colorado with the highest conservation priorities.
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