MALT Awarded a GOCO Grant to Advance Stewardship and Conservation in Park County
Mountain Area Land Trust is pleased to announce that it has received a $129,061 grant award as part of Great Outdoor Colorado’s (GOCO) Resilient Communities program, which helps partners advance outdoor recreation, stewardship, and land protection work. Funded projects respond to one-time, immediate needs or opportunities that have emerged in direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic all within the context of GOCO’s five program values: resource conservation, outdoor stewardship, community vitality, equitable access, and youth connections to the outdoors.
MALT’s will use the grant to hire a full time Stewardship Director to address the impacts of increased recreation at Pennsylvania Mountain Natural Area, Sacramento Creek Ranch (SCR) and other properties under MALT’s purview. MALT’s public recreation projects have seen a spike in visitation since the pandemic began, resulting in damage to natural resources and fragile ecosystems. The Stewardship Director will also oversee new trail construction in partnership with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado in the coming year, as well as enhance its relationships with area landowners, educational groups, local governments, and its donor base. Additional staff capacity will allow MALT to broaden its conservation portfolio and continue its ongoing efforts to expand high alpine research at SCR.
“MALT is honored and grateful to the Board and Staff of GOCO for the generous grant from the Resilient Communities program to support MALT’s conservation efforts in Park County. MALT’s role in land and water conservation and resource protection is critical to maintaining this region’s rural character and protecting its valuable natural resources, particularly in light of recent tremendous pressures due to the Covid-19 pandemic.” Jeanne Beaudry, MALT Executive Director.
Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) invests a portion of Colorado Lottery proceeds to help preserve and enhance the state’s parks, trails, wildlife, rivers, and open spaces. GOCO’s independent board awards competitive grants to local governments and land trusts, and makes investments through Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Created when voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1992, GOCO has since funded more than 5,300 projects in all 64 counties of Colorado without any tax dollar support. Visit GOCO.org for more information.
