Colorado Outdoor Partnership Quick Facts 2017 SHIFT Award Winner Public Land Management Innovation Category Year Founded: 2016 Member agencies and organizations: 32 Executive Summit Coalition The Problem: Colorado's population and recreation industry are rapidly growing and changing while the amount of available land for recreation and habitat to support wildlife is finite. The Solution: The formation of the Executive Summit - a collaborative of leaders across the state of Colorado working to ensure our private and public lands are viable to support our wildlife, outdoor and agricultural heritage and economic well-being for generations to come. This coalition is now known as the Colorado Outdoor Partnership or CO-OP. Impact Initiative Leadership Bob Broscheid Director Colorado Parks & Wildlife Steering Committee Members: Jim Petterson Trust for Public Lands Policy & Funding Committee Chair Matt Gray Friends of Colorado State Parks Outreach Committee Chair Gary Thorson Colorado Parks & Wildlife Madeleine West Colorado Department of Natural Resources Marty Holmes Mule Deer Foundation Scott Jones Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition Aaron Clark International Mountain Biking Association Erik Glenn CO Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust The coalition has committed to: Promoting the importance and stewardship of public and private lands and waters to support habitat conservation and outdoor recreation. Supporting, improving, and strengthening public and private funding to conserve these resources. Innovation Colorado is the first state to formally adopt the Principles for Advancing Outdoor Recreation and Conservation. They are being used as a tool the Coalition uses to advance common priorities of the group. Replicability The time is now to ensure the future of our outdoor heritage as Colorado's challenges are not unique. We encourage other states to follow our lead. Requirements include a diversity and balance of thought leaders as well as the leadership and persistence of a statewide agency. Biggest Challenge to Advancing This Work Balancing the various viewpoints and sometimes conflicting priorities from the diverse set of stakeholders. Success is dependent upon all members stepping outside of their own circles and working for the good of the coalition and the future of Colorado's outdoors and an effective public outreach campaign.
Our Vision... The Colorado Outdoor Partnership Working for the future of Colorado s people, wildlife, and landscapes In 2050, Colorado s people and economy thrive because of our healthy lands, water, wildlife, working farms and ranches, and improved hunting, angling and outdoor recreation opportunities for all. * Our Commitment... The Colorado Outdoor Partnership believes that a collaboration of leaders across the state of Colorado must innovate together to ensure our private and public lands remain viable to support our diverse wildlife, outdoor and agricultural heritage, and economic wellbeing. We commit to promoting the importance and stewardship of public and private lands and waters to support sustainable habitat conservation and responsible outdoor recreation. We commit to support, improve, and strengthen public and private funding to conserve these resources. Our collaborative commitment means that Colorado will remain a beautiful and healthy place to live, work and play for generations to come. How We ll Get There... To collaborate as a partnership we recognize, utilize and value Colorado s SHIFT Principles... 1. Outdoor recreation and conservation require that a diversity of lands and waters be publicly owned, available for public access, and cared for properly. 2. Within Colorado s diversity of land and waters, private land plays a critical role in preserving the ecological integrity of a functional landscape that is necessary for robust and meaningful outdoor recreational experiences. 3. Both recreation and conservation are needed to sustain Colorado s quality of life. Both are beneficial to local economic well-being, for personal health, and for sustaining Colorado s natural resources. 4. All recreation has impact. Coloradans have an obligation to minimize these impacts across the places they recreate and the larger landscape through ethical outdoor behavior. 5. Proactive management solutions, combined with public education, are necessary to care for land, water and wildlife, and to provide the protections needed to maintain quality recreation opportunities. 6. Physical, biological and social science must inform the management of outdoor recreation. 7. Stable, long-term, and diverse funding sources are essential to protect the environment and support outdoor recreation.
Coordinating Entity Colorado Parks and Wildlife convenes, coordinates and facilitates the Colorado Outdoor Partnership. The decisions, resolutions, and strategies that come out of the CO-OP though are driven and approved by the membership. Meeting notes will be taken by a member of the Coordinating Entity and will be reviewed and approved by the Steering Committee prior to distribution to the CO- OP. Membership Members represent the intersection of outdoor recreation and conservation interests related to land conservation in Colorado. Organizations represent the following sectors: outdoor recreation, conservation, sportsmen/women, environmental education, outdoor recreation industry, lands stewardship, agriculture and ranching, and government. Current Member Organizations American Whitewater Berbur, Inc. Bird Conservancy of the Rockies Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE) Colorado Cattlemen s Association(CCA) Colorado Cattlemen s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI) Colorado Mountain Club Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition (COHVCO) Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office Colorado Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association Colorado Trappers and Predator Hunters Association Colorado Wildlife Federation Colorado Youth Corp Association (CYCA) Conservation Colorado Friends of Colorado State Parks Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) Larimer County Department of Natural Resources Larson Sports Mule Deer Foundation National Wildlife Federation The Great Outdoors Fund The Nature Conservancy The Trust for Public Lands Trails Preservation Alliance
US Bureau of Land Management US Forest Service Volunteers for Outdoors Colorado Committees Steering Committee Members review and approve CO-OP meeting agendas. As needed, this committee will address overarching leadership questions and make recommendations to the partnership. Membership should consists of select CPW staff as the Coordinating Entity, the Chair of the Outreach Committee and the Chair of the Policy Committee. In addition, if not represented by the above members, the Steering Committee should have representation from each of the following sectors: Outdoor Recreation, Sportsmen (Hunting/Angling); Conservation, Agriculture and Stewardship. Policy & Funding Committee Members make recommendations to the CO-OP and advance the partnership s goals to support, improve, and strengthen public and private funding to advance the purpose. Outreach Committee Members make recommendations to the CO-OP and advance the partnership s goals to promote the importance and stewardship of public and private lands and waters to support agricultural, habitat conservation and outdoor recreation. CO-OP members are encouraged to participate on Committees. Other committees or workgroups (short-term committees) may be formed as needed. Meetings The full CO-OP meets quarterly. Schedule is set to coincide with CPW s annual Partners in the Outdoors Conference that takes place in April or May every year. The Steering Committee will meet at least once prior to each meeting of the CO-OP to set the agenda. Other committees will meet in between meetings of the CO-OP on an as-needed basis as determined by the Committee Chair. *Notes: The Vision statement has not yet been voted upon and approved by the full CO-OP but it has made it out of committee and will be presented and voted upon at the 2/14/18 meeting.
C O L O R A D O P A R K S & W I L D L I F E Principles for Advancing Outdoor Recreation and Conservation JANUARY 2018 Colorado s Adoption of the SHIFT Principles 1. Outdoor recreation and conservation require that a diversity of lands and waters be publicly owned, available for public access, and cared for properly. The uniquely American public-land heritage is a privilege and a birthright, and the availability of open space and outdoor recreation opportunities in Colorado is a major part of what has made this one of the most desirable states in which to live. We should seek to increase the quality of these public lands and waterways, and do so under the guidance of these seven principles. For these reasons, Coloradans should feel compelled to care for and conserve landscapes, waterways and wildlife to sustain them and eliminate conflicts for generations to come by adopting the following principles. 2. Within Colorado s diversity of land and waters, private land plays a critical role in preserving the ecological integrity of a functional landscape that is necessary for robust and meaningful outdoor recreational experiences. Private lands in Colorado are vital for conservation of the natural resources and western heritage that has long defined the state. Private landowners increase the viability of our lands, waters and natural assets by keeping habitat connected and in GOCO Preamble: We believe the uniquely American public land heritage is a privilege and a birthright, and Colorado s abundant open space and outdoor recreation opportunities contribute to our quality of life and economic vitality. Combined with the North American Model of wildlife management and private land conservation, Coloradans and our visitors enjoy spectacular landscapes in which to work, play and live. We celebrate the contributions of all sectors of our economy to sustaining a healthy balance of our State s ecosystems. Responsible recreation respects all interests on lands and waters, and works to eliminate conflicts. COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216 (303) 297-1192 cpw.state.co.us 1.23.18
6. Physical, biological and social science must inform the management of outdoor recreation. Management decisions should be grounded in the best available scientific information to ensure the protection of natural areas and the sustainability of resources. That information is also necessary to maintain and enhance the quality of outdoor recreation experiences. a natural state. Private landowners and vested parties should be involved in collaborative dialogues whenever possible, and turned to for solutions and deeper partnerships. 3. Both recreation and conservation are needed to sustain Colorado s quality of life. Both are beneficial to local economic well-being, for personal health, and for sustaining Colorado s natural resources. This mutual need exists because outdoor recreation helps people understand the importance of maintaining healthy, intact ecosystems. In turn, that understanding builds support for natural resource protection and stewardship, and conservation protects the land, water and wild places upon which outdoor recreation depends. 7. Stable, long-term, and diverse funding sources are essential to protect the environment and support outdoor recreation. Land management agencies need adequate funding from federal, state, and local government sources, supplemented by new and non-traditional funding from private and nonprofit sources. More information on the SHIFT Principles can be found at: http://cpw.state.co.us/partners 4. All recreation has impact. Coloradans have an obligation to minimize these impacts across the places they recreate and the larger landscape through ethical outdoor behavior. Ethical outdoor behavior demonstrates respect for land, water, and wildlife. This outdoor ethic is critical and must be developed in all users and taught to future generations. CRYSTAL EGLI/CPW CPW DUSTIN DOSKOCIL/CPW 5. Proactive management solutions, combined with public education, are necessary to care for land, water and wildlife, and to provide the protections needed to maintain quality recreation opportunities. Active public engagement in crafting solutions is necessary to ensure land management decisions reflect a consensus and can be effectively implemented. A broad, landscape approach is necessary in order to meet both conservation and recreation needs. Collaborative decision-making is needed to decide which activities are best suited for various landscapes. COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216 (303) 297-1192 cpw.state.co.us 1.23.18