FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Want to get paid for protecting your land?
This month, the Colorado State Forest Service is welcoming landowners to submit proposals through its Forest Legacy Program and receive compensation for unrealized development rights.
The program was created to protect environmentally important private forest areas that are threatened by conversions to non-forest uses. It provides an opportunity for the private landowners to retain ownership and management of their land.
The Forest Legacy Program authorizes CSFS or the U.S. Forest Service to purchase permanent conservation easements on private forestlands to prevent the land from being converted into something other than a forest.
The Colorado State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee will evaluate the submitted proposals and recommend to the state forester those that have sufficient merit to pass along to the U.S. Forest Service.
Proposals that make it that far will compete at a regional and national level for funding.
The application deadline is Aug. 31 for federal fiscal year 2020 funding. Proposals must be submitted by standard mail.
For more information, call Carolyn Aspelin at 970-491-1869. Applications are available online here.