At present, no natural resource agency or organization is collecting or distributing comprehensive civic stewardship data at the local level. The Denver/Front Range Stewardship Mapping and Assessment Project (STEW-MAP) fills this gap by surveying formal and informal stewardship groups across seven Colorado counties. Based on methodology developed by the USDA Forest Service’s NYC  Urban Field Station, the Denver STEW-MAP paints a picture of the region’s environmental stewardship “landscape”, documenting where the many private, non-profit, and public sector organizations work, how they are connected, and from where they source information and tools.  

The Denver STEW-MAP seeks to answer the question: What are the social and spatial (geographic) interactions among groups that conserve, manage, monitor, advocate for, and educate the public about their local environments? Methods include an organizational-level survey with subsequent maps and social network datasets created from survey responses. In this way, the project adds a social layer of information to biophysical information on green infrastructure (e.g., urban tree canopy, parks and open space, riparian areas) in the metro area that already exists or is being developed. It will also uncover gaps in action, knowledge, and resources, which will inform the continued development of Denver Urban Field Station and influence future applied research projects and priorities.

Background Information and History

The Denver Urban Field Station (DUFS) is a collaborative research and practice unit of the US Forest Service (USFS) Rocky Mountain Research Station exploring the connections between people and nature and the role of vegetation in semi-arid cities, towns, and developing regions of the Intermountain West and Great Plains. Launched in 2016 in partnership with the USFS Rocky Mountain Region, CU Denver, City and County of Denver, and US Geological Survey, DUFS is also exploring and expanding partnerships with the Metro Denver Nature Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, CSU, CU Boulder, USFS Intermountain Region, and others. The Denver Environmental Stewardship Mapping (STEW-MAP) Project is the first DUFS collaborative research project.

Seven counties comprise the Metro Denver Nature Alliance and the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, which invests in and connects arts and cultural organizations. DRCOG, the regional council of governments includes these same counties as well as Clear Creek, Gilpin, and southwest Weld counties.