Colorado must lead on conservation goals for 2030
Handies Peak Wilderness Study Area in Colorado is the site of mountains shaped by volcanic fire and glacial ice. (Bob Wick/BLM/Public Domain Mark 1.0)
As an ecologist and someone who grew up hiking Colorado's foothills and enjoying its alpine streams, I've seen firsthand how our relationship with the land shapes who we are — and what we stand to lose. These landscapes aren't just backdrops for recreation. They're places of memory, meaning and sustenance.
And they're at risk.
In May 2021, the Biden-Harris administration outlined a hopeful, ambitious vision: conserve 30% of the nation's lands and waters by 2030. Known as '30×30' or the America the Beautiful initiative, the goal was clear — work locally and voluntarily to conserve and restore the lands, waters and wildlife that support and sustain the country.
But when the Trump administration rescinded this federal directive, the coordinated momentum was lost. Now, it's up to states like Colorado to carry this vision forward.
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The 30×30 initiative goes far beyond drawing boundaries on a map. It's about supporting Tribally-led restoration efforts that honor generations of stewardship. It's about rewarding ranchers, farmers and forest owners who protect soil, water and biodiversity. It's about investing in restoration and resilience projects that create jobs, buffer us from wildfire and drought, and strengthen our climate future. And it's about ensuring every community — especially those historically excluded from public lands access — has nearby green spaces to connect with nature.
As someone who's spent the past decade studying ecosystems and the species that depend on them, I can tell you: The stakes are real. Wildlife corridors are shrinking. Watersheds are drying. Pollinators and other keystone species are in decline. These aren't distant problems. They're happening right here, and they're impacting the places we call home.
When I think about the future of conservation in Colorado, I think about the families I've met while working on ecological projects — the ranchers eager to pass healthy land on to their kids and the scientists and volunteers planting native species along fire-scarred slopes. These people aren't waiting for action. They're already doing the work. Now, we need policy to meet them there.
America the Beautiful has earned the support of Tribal leaders, organizations, and local officials across the country. But to make meaningful progress, we need state-level action that reflects those same values.
Fortunately, Colorado has a strong foundation. Programs and coalitions like Keep It Colorado, Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Regional Partnerships Initiative, and the state's Gross Conservation Easement tax credit program are already connecting the dots between conservation and community. But we can — and must — go further.
Let's build on that momentum. Let's invest in nature-based climate solutions. Let's strengthen partnerships with Tribes, landowners and local governments. Let's expand access to outdoor spaces and ensure the benefits of conservation flow to every Coloradan. And let's commit — clearly and publicly — to protecting at least 30% of our state's lands and waters by 2030.
Our future depends on how we treat the natural world today. The choices we make now will shape the rivers our children fish in, the mountains they hike, and the air they breathe. Colorado has a chance to lead. Let's not miss it.
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