Federal Approval Clears Path for Colorado’s 10-Year Wildlife Conservation Plan


Description: Approval of Colorado’s 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan ensures continued eligibility for State and Tribal Wildlife Grants and sets a 10-year roadmap for conservation efforts. Read the Full Press Release from Colorado Parks and Wildlife...

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Approves Colorado’s 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan

DENVER — Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is pleased to announce that the 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) has been formally approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). With this approval, the plan will guide Colorado’s efforts to conserve the state’s most vulnerable species and the habitats they depend on for the next 10 years.

State Wildlife Action Plans are required every 10 years to maintain eligibility for federal funding through the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program. Approval of the 2025 SWAP ensures Colorado remains eligible for this critical funding while advancing a proactive, science-based framework for wildlife conservation statewide.

Developed by CPW in close collaboration with the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, partners, and the public, the 2025 SWAP builds on previous plans by incorporating the latest data, conservation strategies, and stakeholder input. The plan will be elevated across CPW programs and used as a “call to action” to support collective conservation efforts for Species of Greatest Conservation Need.

“The approval of Colorado’s 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan is an important milestone for wildlife conservation in our state,” said CPW Acting Director Laura Clellan. “This plan reflects years of scientific work, collaboration, and public engagement, and it provides a clear roadmap for protecting Colorado’s biodiversity while helping ensure we remain eligible for vital federal conservation funding over the next decade.”

“This approval represents the culmination of years of collaboration, science, and public engagement,” said State Wildlife Action Plan Coordinator Kacie Miller. “The 2025 SWAP provides a clear, forward-looking framework that will help guide conservation decisions, leverage partnerships, and track our progress over the next decade.”

Core components of the 2025 SWAP, including species rankings, habitat information, and supporting data, are publicly available through our new collection of digital resources found on CPW’s State Wildlife Action Plan website.