Innovation Lab
Colorado Elk Migration Agreement
An innovative payment program helps conserve elk migration and working lands
overview
Keeping elk migrating and working lands working
Colorado’s first Elk Migration Agreement compensates ranchers for protecting vital habitat for migratory elk herds while maintaining agricultural operations. The five-year agreement serves as a model for future conservation partnerships across Colorado and beyond.
Challenge
Offsetting the costs of providing habitat
Eagle Rock Ranch in Park County, Colorado, serves as winter habitat for Colorado’s Kenosha Pass elk herd.
- Between forage loss and fence damage, hosting one of Colorado’s iconic elk herds can be costly.
- Elk Migration Agreement supports the long-term sustainability of Eagle Rock Ranch’s operations by helping offset these costs.
- These efforts reduce the financial pressures that could lead to subdivision or development of agricultural lands, thereby safeguarding Colorado’s iconic landscapes and rural communities.
Solution
Forging new frontiers in ecosystem services
This innovative agreement demonstrates how market-based solutions can support both agricultural productivity and wildlife conservation, creating positive outcomes for ranchers and wildlife.
- A new grazing system that leaves designated pastures ungrazed, the ranch can provide forage during winter months when elk need them most.
- In return, the rancher receives compensation for the grazing he forgoes, creating a new income stream that helps offset the costs of hosting wildlife on his land without sacrificing agricultural viability.
“Creating a reality where both private landowners and migratory wildlife can co-exist peacefully is a win-win-win for the environment, ranchers, and the general public, as working lands are the cornerstone of rural communities and play a vital role in supporting landscape-scale ecosystems.”
— Dave Gottenburg, owner, Eagle Rock Ranch
project partners
Conservation and community partners stepped up to fund the program.
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