Protecting ecological resources and providing environmental education through the Natural Areas Program, Fort Collins, Colorado

Background/Question/Methods

The Natural Areas Program of the City of Fort Collins, Colorado was established in 1992. The goal of the Natural Areas Program is to protect unique and sensitive natural areas in and around the City, many of which contain ecological communities that are wholly or partially representative of the original semi-arid environment of Colorado’s Front Range. As an organization distinct from Parks and Recreation, the main focus of the Natural Areas Program is to conserve plant and animal habitat while providing recreational and educational opportunities directly linked to the natural environment, including studies of plants, wildlife and geology. A secondary benefit of the natural areas is the preservation of distinctive historic cultural resources.

Results/Conclusions

Beginning with 988 acres of open space in 1992, the total number of protected acres now exceeds 32,000 acres following the 2005 acquisition of Soapstone Prairie, an 18,000+ acre tract that includes undisturbed shortgrass and mixed-grass prairie habitat, wetlands, shrubland and the Lindenmeier Site, the most complete Folsom culture campsite ever discovered.  To facilitate public education about the Natural Areas of Fort Collins, several successful programs have been established, including the Volunteer Ranger Assistants and Master Naturalists, who presented over 354 educational programs to 10,645 students, residents and visitors in 2008. The number of educational lessons/seminars presented through the Natural Areas program has risen by approximately 40% per year, making it one of the key avenues of environmental education within the City.