There’s no doubt about it, people love to live in this beautiful state. Colorado’s diverse landscape, abundant recreation opportunities, and scenic open spaces continue to draw increasing numbers of people to live here. Unfortunately, this shared love and excitement for the landscape has its fair share of risks and challenges. Since 2001, Colorado has lost nearly a half-million acres to development, and unfortunately, the trend continues. Never before has conservation been such an important and critical conversation across Colorado.

The work of land trusts, like MLC, to protect open space, agricultural lands, and wildlife habitat in partnership with private landowners continues to be part of the solution. Whether a rancher, farmer, outdoor recreationist, wildlife enthusiast, or all of the above, landowners invest a great deal of time, passion, sweat, and resources into the stewardship and health of the land.

By conserving a property with a conservation easement, a landowner can forever preserve their vision for the land and create a lasting legacy for the community and their family. Landowners who decide to conserve their property ensure that future generations will benefit from the foresight of a vision put into action today. Such a vision also ensures future generations of people and wildlife can enjoy similar healthy and productive landscapes we have today.