Bi-Monthly Newsletter

February 2024

Greetings from Colorado Wildlife Federation!

President's Message

Dear Colorado Wildlife Federation (CWF) Supporters and Members,

Although it is early in the 2024 year for CWF staff and Board members, we are already actively involved in monitoring and testifying in the current Colorado State Legislative session, working diligently to protect wildlife habitat on public lands through Bureau of Land Management and US Forest Service planning processes to advocate for best outcomes for wildlife management, and expanding the Colorado Becoming an Outdoors Woman program.

The Board is working with the Regional Office of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) to secure a $95,000 grant to bring on board a Deputy Director for CWF that would enable us to grow our influence and have greater statewide outreach to continue our efforts to ensure that sound wildlife and wildlife habitat management has even greater consideration when we deal with the myriad of changes Colorado is experiencing.

One of our Board members said the following:

“For several generations, we have lost the traditional ways of bringing young people to the pure joy and character-building parts of being close to nature. Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles used to say to young people, 'come on, let's go hunting, fishing, bird watching, camping, backpacking and other activities,' but the ready access to technology has been a big part of losing that.

It does not have to be lost.

CWF, as a big part of our mission, is to bring youth and adults of

all ages back into harmony with wild places and wild things in a most

responsible fashion. If we don't use wild places and wild critters with

integrity, those places will atrophy.”

Our new grants need matching dollars as part of the collaborative agreements. Our need is great as there are new threats to scientific management of wildlife by the professional biologists and managers at Colorado Parks and Wildlife by proposed ballot initiatives.

When you write us a check or donate $10, $100, or $1,000 online, you can be proud of our part in keeping wild places and critters alive and enhanced for you and generations to come.

Robin Knox

Board President, CWF

[email protected]

Executive Director's Message

Work to shape Colorado’s wildlife management policies certainly has not slowed down during this first quarter of 2024. The State’s Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy planning process began last year. Its purpose is to develop a regionally rooted, statewide collaborative vision for conservation, climate resilience and sustainable recreation. The strategy will establish goals, and measures to plan and track progress, identify a strategic funding plan, and provide supporting resources to communities, regions, agencies, and partner organizations who plan for and manage projects within these topic areas. I serve on the steering committee and technical committee and believe the work is worthwhile. Integral to this process are the 18 regional partnerships and CWF actively participates in two of them.

The BLM has many planning processes underway for the imperiled Gunnison sage grouse, a western planning process for siting solar projects on public lands it manages, and in March the planning process for the Greater sage grouse is expected to begin. The BLM recently concluded its public comment period for the statewide big game resource management planning amendment.

As to the state general assembly, CWF testified in support of raising the cap on the conservation easement tax credit program as the demand is fully subscribed by private landowners in January. This program is very important for wildlife, ranching families, hunters and anglers, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The bill was introduced into and passed the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on a vote of 6-1 and next moves to the Senate Finance Committee.

An expected bill will address standards for siting of renewable energy projects. We are carefully watching for the introduction of this bill to assess provisions that address wildlife. In addition, a bill passed the House Agriculture, Livestock & Water Committee to enable CPW to study invertebrates (but not to regulate them or address pesticides) and moved to the Committee on Appropriations.

Suzanne O’Neill

Executive Director, CWF

[email protected]

Upcoming Events

About BOW

Step 1: Visit the appropriate link below..

• For King Soopers Stores - go to http://www.kingsoopers.com
• For City Market Stores - go to http://www.citymarket.com

Step 2: Sign in or create an account and then click "My Account" in the profile drop down menu

Step 3: Click "Community Rewards"

Step 4: Search for Colorado Wildlife Federation or our nonprofit #: NC167

Step 5: Click enroll

Step 6: All done! Simply use your shopper's card as normal and start earning cash for CWF!

Membership & Supporter Voice: Your Stories, Your Impact!

Share your wildlife encounters, outdoor adventures, and snapshots of Colorado's beauty with fellow members. Email us ([email protected]) your stories and photos to inspire us all and remind us of the profound connection we share with nature. We will choose one submission to highlight in our next newsletter!

Thank you so much for your continued support, and let's work together to ensure a vibrant future for Colorado's wildlife and natural landscapes.

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