Our conservation goal, as outlined by the CMC Board of Directors in our six-year strategic plan, is "to sustain wilderness, wildlife, and native ecosystems in Colorado for the appreciation and enjoyment by current and future generations." To achieve this, we work within the following program areas:

Preserving Wildness

Over 6.5 million acres of National Forest and Bureau of Land Management lands are still roadless but, without permanent protection, are vulnerable to energy development, logging, and off-road vehicles. It is these untouched areas that ensure our communities can enjoy clean air, clean water, beautiful vistas, healthy wildlife, and remarkable recreation experiences. Our goal is to protect forever these last special places where natural ecological processes, primitive recreation, and wildness prevail. Read more >>

Restoring the Quiet Experience

The Southern Rockies are changing. In some places where adventurous mountaineers once pioneered new routes through pristine country, there are now highways, dirt bike networks, subdivisions, ski resorts, and noise. Natural quiet, remoteness, and solitude, once taken for granted on public lands, are becoming hard to find. Our goal is to unite outdoor users -- anglers, hunters, bikers, birdwatchers, hikers, mountaineers, outfitters, and others -- to preserve and restore quiet places in our backcountry before they are all gone. Read more >>

Balancing Recreation and the Environment

Millions of people recreate in Colorado's backcountry every year. Recreation has wonderful benefits, but in such high numbers and varieties it can also cause serious impacts to wildlife, vegetation, soils, and other users. Our goal is to find that critical balance between recreation and natural resource protection that will ensure the sustainability of our treasured backcountry for Coloradans today and for generations to come. Read more >>