This year’s Partners in the Outdoors Conference centered on a powerful and timely theme: “Shared Landscapes, Shared Futures.” It was both a call to action and a reminder that the challenges we face—recreation access, conservation, and climate resiliency—are deeply interconnected and cannot be addressed in isolation. Across Colorado’s diverse ecological and social landscapes, the health of our communities and natural resources depends on how well we work together.
I began the conference Monday morning at the Regional Partnership Summit, a gathering that brought together Regional Partnerships from across the state alongside representatives from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Great Outdoors Colorado, the Department of Natural Resources, and other key agencies. The conversation was grounded in collaboration and alignment. State agencies are making meaningful strides to streamline funding opportunities, reduce barriers, and increase capacity for local partners. This effort to better align grant-making processes is more than administrative—it’s a critical step toward ensuring that communities can more effectively advance recreation opportunities, conservation efforts, and climate resilience initiatives.
One of the most impactful moments of the Summit was hearing from Ed Roberson, host of the Mountain & Prairie Podcast. He shared his personal journey from a career in real estate and business into the world of conservation, but more importantly, he challenged us to rethink how we view one another. He spoke about what he called the “False Narrative”—the idea that people who appear different on the surface, such as “the rancher” and “my neighbor,” are inherently in conflict. In reality, he argued, there is often a “Magical Overlap”—a shared set of values and care for the land that becomes visible when we move beyond labels and take the time to understand one another.
This idea resonated deeply throughout the rest of the conference. It echoed in conversations about land use, in discussions around access and stewardship, and in sessions highlighting successful projects. What may initially appear as competing priorities—recreation, conservation, or working lands—can, in fact, be intentionally aligned. When done thoughtfully, these intersections create multi-benefit projects that strengthen both landscapes and communities.
This concept came to life in a panel I had the opportunity to participate in: “Conservation Wins that Support Exceptional and Sustainable Recreation.” Alongside fellow Regional Partnership leaders from NoCo Places, West Slope Outdoor Alliance, and Gunnison STOR, we explored how conservation-focused projects can directly enhance recreation experiences while safeguarding the landscapes that make those experiences possible.
Across the panel, a clear theme emerged: conservation and recreation are not opposing forces—they are deeply interdependent. When we invest in the health of ecosystems, we are simultaneously investing in the quality, sustainability, and longevity of outdoor recreation.
During the session, I shared examples of upcoming habitat improvement projects that SLV GO! is helping coordinate in partnership with members of the SLV GO! Coalition, including the Bureau of Land Management San Luis Valley Field Office, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and Southwest Conservation Corps. These projects, both located on BLM lands in the southern San Luis Valley, are rooted in collaboration and designed to deliver landscape-scale benefits.
The first project involves the disassembly of 12 miles of outdated netwire fencing along the Colorado–New Mexico boundary. Historically used for grazing permittees, this fencing now poses a significant barrier—and hazard—for ungulates. By replacing it with wildlife-friendly fencing that meets state standards, we can restore safe and effective wildlife movement across the Taos Plateau. This area serves as a critical migratory corridor for big game and includes essential wildlife habitat. Improving permeability across this landscape not only benefits wildlife populations, but also enhances opportunities for hunting, wildlife viewing, and other forms of recreation that depend on healthy, functioning ecosystems.
The second project focuses on constructing riparian habitat exclosures within the Rio Grande Natural Area. These exclosures are designed to protect and restore riparian function in areas that have experienced long-term pressure from both authorized and unauthorized grazing, as well as impacts from feral horses. By allowing vegetation to recover and stabilizing these sensitive ecosystems, the project will help protect critical habitat for species such as the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. Just as importantly, it will improve watershed health and ecological resilience more broadly.
These efforts underscore an important truth: without intentional conservation work, we risk losing the very ecological integrity that recreation depends on. Degraded habitats lead to declines in wildlife populations, diminished water quality, and less resilient landscapes—ultimately reducing the quality of outdoor experiences and limiting access over time.
Ed also referenced Wendell Berry’s concept from “It All Turns on Affection,” describing two relationships people have with land: “boomers” and “stickers.” Boomers, driven by extraction and short-term gain, move on once resources are depleted. Stickers, on the other hand, are rooted in place. They are motivated by affection, committed to stewardship, and invested in the long-term health of their communities.
The term “stickers” stayed with me throughout the conference. It became a lens through which I saw the work being shared—people and partnerships who are deeply connected to place and committed to caring for it. These are the individuals and organizations who are bridging divides, building trust, and finding common ground. They are proof that when we lead with affection for the land and for each other, collaboration becomes not just possible, but powerful.
The conference reinforced that Colorado’s future depends on these kinds of partnerships. By strengthening relationships, aligning efforts, and building on shared values, we can move beyond siloed thinking and toward a more integrated approach to land management. The challenges ahead are complex, but so too is the collective knowledge, passion, and dedication of those working to address them.
As we look ahead, the message is clear: a future where conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable outdoor recreation are not just aspirations, but realities, will only be achieved through shared vision and collective action. Our landscapes are shared. Our futures are shared. And the work to sustain them must be shared as well.
