Forest management should serve ecosystems and communities, not degrade them.
Colorado Wild's Forest Watch Campaign works to protect old growth forests, sensitive wildlife habitat, and other ecologically important areas in Colorado's forested high country. We simultaneously work to steer fuels reduction efforts towards areas near homes where they are most effective. Through comprehensive monitoring, public education, and application of sound scientific principles, we work to stop or favorably modify ineffective fuels reduction and inappropriate commercial logging disguised as “forest health" projects. We promote sustainable forest thinning in these areas that not only protect homes, but provides quality local jobs. Colorado Wild is also the foremost statewide organization challenging inappropriate administrative rule changes that seek to cut the public out of public lands decisions.
Colorado’s high country forests are nearly all under the management of the U.S. Forest Service save one spot on the map. Due the area’s mineralization, the headwaters of the Animas, Lake Fork of the Gunnison, and Uncompahgre Rivers are managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and known as the Alpine Triangle.
After having two sets of regulations governing the preparation of forest plans voided by court decisions, the Forest Service has decided to prepare an entirely new set.
In April, the State of Colorado sent its latest proposal for managing Colorado’s national forest roadless areas to the U. S. Department of Agriculture, parent agency of the U. S. Forest Service.
Dozens of methane wells would go into roadless areas; Rare ecosystem of pristine canyons, low-elevation forests at risk.
Landowners, farmers, hunters, and other users of the HD Mountains went to court today to challenge a court ruling allowing dozens of methane wells planned for roadless watersheds and critical winter wildlife habitat near Bayfield to proceed.