In May 2011, the Division of Wildlife announced a Request for Proposals (RFP) for funding projects that provide habitat protection and/or wildlife-related recreational access through the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Protection Program (CWHPP).
The proposal period is now closed. The guidelines for the evaluation of proposals that were received by the deadline are described below.
A total of up to $11 million will be made available for the best proposals received. Proposals received after 5 p.m. on June 22, 2011, will not be eligible for consideration during this funding cycle.
Notification of the Wildlife Commission's decision on proposals will be emailed and sent by postal mail on November 14, 2011 (see Timeline (pdf)). Negotiation of projects selected by the Wildlife Commission will begin in January 2012, and funds will not be available prior to July 1, 2012, and following completion of all required due diligence.
Habitat loss is a primary cause for the decline of many wildlife species in Colorado. As highly desirable lands are altered or converted to other uses, wildlife habitat can become degraded, destroyed and fragmented. Habitat conversion and loss can also reduce opportunities for hunting, fishing, hiking and wildlife observation.
This Program’s priorities are guided by Colorado’s Wildlife Action Plan, the Division’s 2010-2020 Strategic Plan and the requirements of specific funding sources, which include Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), State Habitat Stamp Funds and federal funding through State Wildlife Grants. Collectively, these will be used for the priorities described below.
Emphasis will be placed on the purchase of permanent conservation easements to ensure that all reasonable avenues are pursued in lieu of fee simple acquisition. Fee title purchases are allowed but will be considered primarily for the acquisition of properties that are interior or adjacent to State Wildlife Areas (SWAs) and if the purchase would enhance the management of an SWA (for example, by providing a more manageable boundary, filling in an in-holding, improving public access, or enhancing management of habitat and wildlife-related recreation on Division property). Purchase of the fee title interest in a property may also be considered in rare situations if the threat of development is imminent and the landowner is unwilling to entertain a conservation easement, or where such acquisitions greatly enhance access to other public lands.
Public access is not required for conservation easement projects. However, projects that separately convey to the Division restricted or year-round public access for wildlife-related recreation, in addition to placing a conservation easement on the project property, will be eligible to receive compensation for public access in addition to compensation for a conservation easement.
Property owners may also submit proposals for projects whose sole purpose is to provide hunting or fishing access through an access easement or agreement, or conveyance of fee title.
Colorado’s Wildlife Habitat Protection Program is designed to accept proposals from private property owners, local government open space programs, land trusts or other conservation organizations that address one or more of the following priorities (in no particular order):
- Landscape-scale parcels;
- Parcels that face the threat of development;
- Parcels that are adjacent to other protected properties (e.g. State Wildlife Areas, other Conservation Easements on private property, BLM or U.S. Forest Service lands);
- Parcels that provide recreational access themselves or otherwise increase access to hunting and/or fishing opportunities;*
- Parcels that provide important big game migration corridors, big game winter range or habitat important for sage-grouse;
- SWA in-holdings (described in the paragraph above).
* Note: In general, the more open the access is for recreational opportunity, the more favorably the access element of a proposal will be considered.
The selection of projects is highly competitive. Projects that excel in meeting one of the priorities will be considered; those projects that combine several of the priorities listed above may have a competitive advantage.
This program's preferred strategy for habitat protection involves perpetual conservation easements that provide incentives to private property owners to actively assist with the management and protection of the 
priority landscapes mentioned above. Conservation easements will be used to guarantee that landscapes will remain intact and to provide fundamental wildlife benefits on a long-term basis. All conservation easements funded from the program will have an accompanying management plan that must be agreed upon by the property owner and the Division prior to closing of the project. The implications of a management plan should be carefully considered by the property owner prior to submitting a proposal. The conservation easements purchased under this program must include not only the protection of open space values, but of the habitat being utilized by the wildlife on the property. The protections sought by the Division may include (but not be limited to) restrictions on the type, timing and duration of livestock grazing, the type and timing of recreational activities and the overall management of vegetation on the property. Negotiating the terms and conditions of the management plan is a key step in the process. The Division encourages property owners to develop a clear vision for the future of their property prior to entering into these negotiations.
How to apply
Any property owner wishing to participate in the program that has property benefiting the priority landscapes and/or recreational access identified may complete a Proposal Form for the proposed project or may ask an interested land trust or a local government open space program for assistance in completing the proposal. It is not required that the Division hold title to conservation easements funded through this program; land trusts or open space programs may be part of the proposal process at a landowner’s request and may hold the grantee interest in a proposed conservation easement.
Property owners who wish to participate in this program are strongly encouraged, although not required, to donate a percentage of the value of the property interest being conveyed. The value of any landowner donation will be given significant weight (along with other factors) in the Division’s evaluation, ranking and selection of properties.
The Proposal Form is available in the links above in two formats: computer-writable format or in a format that can be printed and then completed in handwriting. It is important that those preparing a proposal review the materials accompanying the Proposal Form in order to be fully informed of program priorities, the proposal process, and requirements if funding is awarded.
All proposals will undergo a rigorous biological review and ranking process. Property owners are strongly encouraged to contact the Area Wildlife Manager within their project area to assist with wildlife information needed in the proposal. Contact information for Division Area offices is listed on the DOW Areas map provided above.
For further assistance, please contact Diane Gansauer, Land Protection Specialist, Colorado Division of Wildlife at 303-291-7217 or e-mail diane.gansauer@state.co.us. Sending proposals by email rather than by any other means is strongly encouraged; emailed proposals should be sent to Wildlife.RealEstateProposals@state.co.us. However, other options are available for delivering a completed proposal to the Division. These are described in the Proposal Form, or those preparing proposals may contact Diane Gansauer as listed above for proposal delivery options. Proposals should be fully completed in order to be given complete consideration.
Because the priorities for this RFP are different than in previous years, those who have previously submitted a proposal and would like to be considered again are asked to complete a new proposal form. In comparison to 2010 and 2009, this year’s request particularly emphasizes opportunities to protect or connect large landscapes.
Following the successful closing of transactions, completed projects may be publicized by the Division on the agency's Web site and through the press.