Colorado Forest Project News

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New Environment Colorado report highlights the importance of Colorado’s roadless forests and threats to billion-dollar recreation economy and watersheds.

Denver, CO – Oil and gas drilling, mining, and logging threaten over 4.4 million acres of Colorado’s national forests, jeopardizing the state’s $2.4 billion wildlife-related outdoor recreation activities such as fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching, according to a new report released today by Environment Colorado.

“Coloradans treasure the outdoor and economic opportunities provided by our national forests,” said Griffin Cottle, Preservation Associate of Environment Colorado. “Our forests are worth more wild, and Congress should step-in and permanently protect roadless areas in our National Forests.”

The report, entitled “Worth More Wild: The Value of Colorado’s Roadless National Forests,” found that:

• In 2006, 1.6 million Coloradans participated in wildlife-related recreation including fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching which contributed over $2.4 billion to the state economy.
• Annually, more than $241 million worth of freshwater for drinking and irrigation comes from the Rocky Mountain Forest Service region, which encompasses Colorado. With all Forest Service regions combined, water from our national forests is conservatively valued at $3.7 billion per year.

In addition, the Outdoor Industries Association estimates that tourism and in-state outdoor equipment sales help contribute in excess of $10 billion to Colorado’s economy, more than 107,000 in-state jobs across Colorado, and nearly 500 million in annual state tax revenue.

Kelty, a leading national outdoor recreation equipment company based in Boulder,,supports protections for Colorado’s roadless forests. 

"Colorado’s Roadless areas and other wild forests are the lifeblood of our industry,” said Kenny Ballard, president of Kelty. “Protecting these wild places for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy, ensures recreation continues to significantly contribute to Colorado’s economy.” 

The report also found that at least 21 of the state’s proposed, threatened, and endangered species could be negatively impacted by the destruction of roadless areas and their habitat, such as the grey wolf, Canada Lynx, and the greenback cutthroat trout.

“Roadless areas supply ample clean, cold water for Colorado’s fisheries. Key security areas for elk and mule deer, and intact habitat for rare and endangered species,” said David Dittoff, regional representative of the National Wildlife Federation. “For the sake of our wildlife, our hunters, anglers, and wildlife watchers, and our natural heritage, it is imperative that we conserve our last existing roadless forests.”

According to the report, Colorado’s roadless forests are under attack from record-breaking oil and gas drilling. In 2005, Colorado set a new state record where 4,000 new drilling permits issued. In August 2006, the Bureau of Land Management auctioned off almost 20,000 acres of roadless areas within the White River and Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests to oil companies. In April 2007, the U.S. Forest Service allowed construction of roads and well-pads in 5,000 acres of roadless areas in the San Juan National Forest.

“Unfortunately, the Bush administration has created a record of failure to protect Colorado’s forests,” said Cottle.

The Bush administration is appealing a federal court ruling which reinstated roadless area protections under the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule for the lower 48 states. In spring 2007, Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter submitted a letter stating his support for the 2001 Roadless Rule and submitted a petition as an “insurance policy” to ensure Colorado’s roadless forests maintain protections.

However, recent events in California have cast doubt on agreements between states and the Bush administration for roadless forests. In a letter to the U.S. Sec. of Agriculture, Gov. Schwarzenegger wrote that the Forest Service “completely ignored its own written assurances that prohibit building roads in roadless areas” in four different National Forests.

“Even a fellow Republican can’t count on the Bush administration to uphold its word to protect our roadless forests,” said Cottle. “Environment Colorado urges the Colorado delegation to join Rep. Diana DeGette to cosponsor the Roadless Area Conservation Act and permanently protect Colorado’s last wild forests.”

Other contacts:
Contact information for Kenny Ballard of Kelty available upon request.

Environment Colorado focuses on protecting air and water quality, promoting a sustainable energy policy, implementing transit oriented solutions to Colorado's transportation problems and curbing sprawl by promoting responsible land use planning. Environment Colorado utilizes the time-tested tools of research, public education, advocacy and organizing. For more information, visit: www.EnvironmentColorado.org.