Colorado State Forest Service Extends Deadline for Proposals to Protect Private Forestlands

The Colorado State Forest Service has extended the deadline to apply for Forest Legacy Program funds, which provide selected landowners compensation for unrealized development rights on private land.

The deadline to apply for program funds for federal fiscal year 2013 is now Aug. 17, 2011. The previous application deadline was July 24.

The Colorado Forest Legacy Program authorizes the U.S. Forest Service, through the CSFS, to purchase permanent conservation easements on environmentally important private land to prevent forestlands from being converted to non-forest uses. Private forestlands that support continued traditional forest uses and offer water resources, wildlife habitat and ecological, scenic, cultural or recreational value will receive priority. Selected landowners retain ownership and management of their land.

The Colorado State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee will evaluate proposals and recommend to the state forester those that have sufficient merit to forward to the U.S. Forest Service to compete at a regional level; those selected at the regional level will compete nationally for funding.

To date, the CSFS has received more than $10.3 million in Forest Legacy funds that are protecting more than 12,000 acres of land from development throughout Colorado.

Applications are available under the “Funding Opportunities” link at www.csfs.colostate.edu. Completed proposals must be submitted by mail and received no later than 5 p.m. Aug. 17. For additional information, contact the CSFS at (970) 491-6303.

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