On February 15, 2024, Colorado’s Governor Jared Polis announced a $6.5 million investment for forest conservation and watershed projects. The announcement was made in Denver, in partnership with Dan Gibbs, the head of Colorado’s Department of Natural Resources, and other state leaders. The funding comes from Colorado’s Strategic Wildfire Action Program (COSWAP), initiated by Polis in 2022.
In the past four years, the Polis administration has allocated about $145 million in state funds for forest conservation and wildfire prevention. This funding aims to protect Colorado’s communities and infrastructure from wildfires. Since COSWAP’s inception, over $22.5 million has been invested across the state. Polis stressed the importance of this work for the safety and well-being of Colorado’s residents and environment.
COSWAP was established through a bipartisan law passed in 2021. The law funded wildfire risk reduction projects and made COSWAP a permanent program. It supports projects that reduce fuel for fires, restore forests, and mitigate wildfire risks, with the goal of protecting communities and infrastructure.