Hello COSA community,
Colorado Parks and WIldlife is pleased to announce the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Program‘s (CWHP) 2026 Request for Proposals (RFP). The CWHP is a statewide program which offers funding opportunities to landowners who wish to protect wildlife habitat on their property, and/or provide wildlife-related recreational public access.
The CWHP funds conservation easements, public access easements, and fee title purchases to accomplish strategic wildlife conservation and public access goals.
Funding for the 2026 cycle is at least $11million and is made possible by revenue generated from the sale of the Habitat Stamp, hunting and fishing licenses, and through CPW’s cooperative partnership with Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO).
A landowner or a third party representative must complete application forms which address one or more of the following:
2026 Funding Priorities:
-
Acquiring significant public access for hunting, fishing or wildlife viewing
-
Protecting big game winter range and migration corridors
-
Protecting habitat for species of concern (specifically Species of Greatest Conservation Need, as identified in the Statewide Wildlife Action Plan)
-
Protecting riparian areas and wetlands
-
Landscape-scale parcels
-
Parcels that provide connectivity to conserved lands
Additional points will be given to proposals that address one or more of the following:
2026 Funding Preferences
-
Properties that include lesser prairie chicken habitat
-
Properties that exhibit biodiversity
-
Properties that fall within CPW’s Habitat Conservation and Connectivity Plan’s Priority (HCCP) Landscapes
-
Provides public right-of-way across private land to provide public access to landlocked public land
-
Working farms and ranches
-
Properties that support wildlife crossings
Application materials are available on the CWHP’s webpage, and all proposals must be received by 5pm on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
Applicants and partners are strongly encouraged to reach out to local CPW staff when considering a proposal. Applicants should also contact the CWHP’s manager before submitting an application to discuss the program’s timelines and the project’s proposed budget.
Please spread this information amongst your networks, and thank you for all you do for Colorado’s open spaces.
For additional information about the CWHP, please contact:
Amanda Nims, CWHP Manager
303-291-7269
amanda.nims