In southwest Colorado, the town of Durango features a beautiful combination of scenic views, abundant wildlife, an outdoor-recreation wonderland, a local farming and ranching legacy, and tribal lands rich with historical and cultural artifacts and stories. But, like other Colorado gems, Durango’s popularity, combined with the effects of climate change, has significantly altered the landscape. Jennifer Thurston has seen the changes intensify over the decades. Today, she is getting help to protect an area that, without any action, would be at risk of disappearing.

For years, Karen Whitney drove past this stretch of the Yampa River, noticing the Mount Harris historical highway marker. Once a thriving mining town, the property had been closed to the public for more than six decades. Karen imagined what it would be like to protect it - and acted on her vision. “Conserving this space reverses the trend compared to the rest of the country. Wild places have been developed, but this formerly developed area is now a wild place.”

In the larger San Luis Valley, more than 50 percent of the population is Hispanic. When Josie approached Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust to help conserve her family's ranch, it was a chance to protect this unique piece of land, and also build more relationships and trust with a community that is often overlooked in the conservation arena. And Josie was driven: "They're not making any more land. We need to do what we can to protect it.”