RESTORE Colorado Program Announces $3.7 Million in New Conservation Grants

DENVER, CO (April 16, 2024) – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced $3.7 million in grants to advance conservation across the state of Colorado. The grants also include $4.3 million in matching contributions from local communities for a total conservation impact of $7.9 million.

The RESTORE Colorado program is a partnership between NFWF and other conservation funders, including the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Great Outdoors Colorado, Colorado Water Conservation Board, Gates Family Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, Cargill, Nestlé, Chevron and Oxy.  

Restoration and Stewardship of Outdoor Resources and Environment (RESTORE) Colorado funds at-scale habitat restoration, expansion and improvement projects across priority landscape types in the state. These include river corridors and wetlands, grasslands of eastern Colorado, sagebrush and big game winter range.

“Through the RESTORE Colorado program, we are improving both wildlife habitat and working lands throughout the state through voluntary conservation actions,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “These grants are a result of the many partners coming together to fund conservation at a meaningful scale, and with the projects we are announcing today, I know we are creating a better future for both Colorado’s wildlife species and its citizens.”

Colorado hosts some of the most impressive landscapes and wildlife habitat in the country. At the same time, a rapidly growing human population and increasing demands on public and private lands have strained wildlife and their habitats in the region.  

“This suite of projects supports landscape level conservation and fish and wildlife species we all care about. The number of conservation projects and scale would not be achieved without support from NFWF and generous funding partners,” said Dominic Barrett, Colorado State Coordinator, USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife. 

“The quality and breadth of projects supported through the RESTORE Colorado program continue to drive stewardship forward in Colorado,” said Jackie Miller, Executive Director of Great Outdoors Colorado. “We appreciate the tremendous dedication of communities, funders, and conservation partners to restore healthy ecosystems and the benefits they provide for wildlife and future generations.”

To address these threats and support both Colorado’s wild and working lands, the projects supported by the 12 grants announced today will improve riparian and grassland ecosystems throughout Colorado. Conservation activities include stream restoration and reintroduction of native fish species, implementing virtual fence technology to improve grazing management, removing invasive plants for the benefit of wetland habitat, and removing derelict fencing in priority big game migration corridors. 

“RESTORE Colorado continues to serve as an important and innovative funding program for furthering the conservation and restoration of the state’s wildlife, lands and waters. We appreciate the ongoing commitment to this program from an array of funding and conservation partners,” said Dan Gibbs, executive director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources. “The Department of Natural Resources remains invested in the future of this wildly successful program which has helped to significantly improve habitat in critical big game corridors, restore watershed health and further the state’s goals to ensure more climate resilient landscapes.”

“RESTORE Colorado gives back to nature by caring for wildlife habitats and ensures our environment thrives,” said Kim Mendoza-Cooke, Oxy director of policy and external affairs. “Together, we strive to make a lasting impact on the environment and the well-being of our communities—a core value Oxy embraces with our commitment to do good.”

For a complete list of grants awarded through RESTORE Colorado this year, click here.

About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Chartered by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and restores the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Working with federal, corporate, foundation and individual partners, NFWF has funded more than 6,800 organizations and generated a total conservation impact of more than $10 billion. NFWF is an equal opportunity provider. Learn more at nfwf.org. 

About USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife
The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program provides free technical and financial assistance to private landowners, managers, Tribes, corporations, schools and nonprofits interested in improving wildlife habitat on their land.  Nationwide, we have helped more than 30,000 landowners to complete more than 50,000 projects, restoring more than six million acres of forest, prairie, wetland and stream habitat for wildlife.  To learn more, please visit fws.gov/program/partners-fish-and-wildlife.

About Colorado Department of Natural Resources
The Colorado Department of Natural Resources mission is to manage and conserve Colorado’s natural resources for the benefit of people today – and tomorrow. Our diverse agencies work together to meet the recreational and resource needs of all Coloradans. To learn more go to: dnr.colorado.gov.

About Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO)
Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) invests a portion of Colorado Lottery proceeds to help preserve and enhance the state’s parks, trails, wildlife, rivers, and open spaces. GOCO’s independent board awards competitive grants to local governments and land trusts and makes investments through Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Created when voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1992, GOCO has since funded more than 5,700 projects in all 64 counties of Colorado without any tax dollar support. Visit GOCO.org for more information.

About Occidental
Occidental is an international energy company with assets primarily in the United States, the Middle East and North Africa. We are one of the largest oil and gas producers in the U.S., including a leading producer in the Permian and DJ basins, and offshore Gulf of Mexico. Our midstream and marketing segment provides flow assurance and maximizes the value of our oil and gas. Our chemical subsidiary OxyChem manufactures the building blocks for life-enhancing products. Our Oxy Low Carbon Ventures subsidiary is advancing leading-edge technologies and business solutions that economically grow our business while reducing emissions. We are committed to using our global leadership in carbon management to advance a lower-carbon world. Visit oxy.com for more information.

Contact:

Rob Blumenthal, 202-857-0166, rob.blumenthal@nfwf.org