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CPW Opens 2025 Wildlife Habitat Grant Applications with $11 Million Available for Conservation and Public Access Projects


Description: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Released the Following Information Regarding Landowners' Opportunity to Request Funding to Protect Wildlife Habitat on Private Property in Colorado...

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Invites Landowners to Request Funding to Protect Wildlife Habitat on Their Property

DENVER ‒ Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is pleased to announce the 2025 Colorado Wildlife Habitat Program (CWHP) application period is now open through Oct. 9, 2025. The CWHP is a statewide program that offers funding opportunities to landowners who wish to protect wildlife habitat or provide wildlife-related recreational public access on their property.

The CWHP is an incentive-based program that funds conservation easements, public access easements, and fee title purchases to accomplish strategic wildlife conservation and public access goals.  

The budget for the 2025 funding cycle is up to $11 million, made possible by revenue generated from the sale of the Habitat Stamp, hunting and fishing licenses and through CPW’s partnership with Great Outdoors Colorado.

How to Apply
Landowners or third-party representatives must complete a full application demonstrating that the proposal addresses one or more of the following funding priorities and preferences:

2025 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

2025 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

More information and application materials are available here at cpw.state.co.us/cwhp

Proposals must be received by Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 5 p.m. MST.

Applicants are advised to contact their local CPW staff and the CWHP manager before submitting an application. Local CPW office contact information can be found on CPW’s website.