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What do you want for the future of your natural areas?For over 30 years, the Fort Collins and Larimer County community has prioritized natural areas conservation, which has resulted in an amazing network of conserved lands. Now, your voice will guide the future of conservation and stewardship with a planning document called the Natural Areas Strategic Framework.Your perspective will help the Cityembody the community-driven nature of our work.
Draft Plan Coming Spring 2025
Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area (Kevin Borchert)
Over the past 30 years, natural areas have grown from 13 to 53 protected open spaces with 136 miles of trail. Natural areas protect a diversity of habitats, wildlife, and native plant communities. When visiting these spaces, you’ll find opportunities to experience nature through recreation and education. You and your neighbors might also treasure these community assets because they are a place for health, cultural connections, research, and economic vitality. Your community-initiated city and county sales taxes fund natural areas.
Challenges natural areaswill face in the next 20 years include:
Increasing flooding, wildfires, and stressed ecosystemsdue to climate change and population growthSoapstone Prairie Natural Area (Greg Fencl)
Increasing needs for infrastructure maintenance
Increasing visitation and recreation use
Diverse and sometimes conflicting community interests
Opportunities for the next 20 years of natural areas include:
Building on land conservation accomplishments through future acquisitions and conservation easements
Bringing together people who value natural areas
Partnering with volunteers, non-profits, other agencies to conserve land, improve habitats, and provide visitor opportunities to build resilience
What do you want for the future of your natural areas?For over 30 years, the Fort Collins and Larimer County community has prioritized natural areas conservation, which has resulted in an amazing network of conserved lands. Now, your voice will guide the future of conservation and stewardship with a planning document called the Natural Areas Strategic Framework.Your perspective will help the Cityembody the community-driven nature of our work.
Draft Plan Coming Spring 2025
Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area (Kevin Borchert)
Over the past 30 years, natural areas have grown from 13 to 53 protected open spaces with 136 miles of trail. Natural areas protect a diversity of habitats, wildlife, and native plant communities. When visiting these spaces, you’ll find opportunities to experience nature through recreation and education. You and your neighbors might also treasure these community assets because they are a place for health, cultural connections, research, and economic vitality. Your community-initiated city and county sales taxes fund natural areas.
Challenges natural areaswill face in the next 20 years include:
Increasing flooding, wildfires, and stressed ecosystemsdue to climate change and population growthSoapstone Prairie Natural Area (Greg Fencl)
Increasing needs for infrastructure maintenance
Increasing visitation and recreation use
Diverse and sometimes conflicting community interests
Opportunities for the next 20 years of natural areas include:
Building on land conservation accomplishments through future acquisitions and conservation easements
Bringing together people who value natural areas
Partnering with volunteers, non-profits, other agencies to conserve land, improve habitats, and provide visitor opportunities to build resilience