Summit Cares Grant Environmental Stewardship Initiative
A 12-month, community-driven program addressing two interconnected threats to Park County’s forests: widespread mountain pine beetle infestation and escalating wildfire risk — through proactive beetle management, hazardous fuel reduction, and forest-health education.
Why this project matters
Beetle-kill isn’t just an ecological problem — it’s a fuel problem.
Widespread mountain pine beetle infestation has left large volumes of dead and dying timber across Park County, accelerating forest decline and dramatically increasing wildfire severity. Left unaddressed, these conditions threaten watersheds, wildlife habitat, and the long-term health of local ecosystems.
With Summit Cares funding, FAPCo is leading a 12-month stewardship initiative combining science-based forest-health practices with inclusive community engagement — helping residents identify and remove beetle-infested trees early, reduce hazardous fuels, and support healthier forest regeneration.
Program focus
Three ways this program reduces risk.
Beetle-Infestation Management
Helping residents identify and remove beetle-infested trees early — slowing the spread of beetle activity, reducing hazardous fuel loads, and supporting healthier forest regeneration across Park County.
Reduces beetle spreadHands-On Fuel Reduction
Community chipping days, slash-removal support, and shared tools make it possible for residents — especially older adults and mobility-limited individuals — to complete mitigation work they couldn’t manage alone.
Reduces hazardous fuelsGot 5 Neighbor Matching
FAPCo’s Got 5 neighbor-connection system matches residents who need physical assistance with mitigation tasks to volunteers — expanding participation beyond those with the physical capacity or financial means to manage beetle-kill on their own.
Expands accessFunded by: Summit Cares — Environmental Stewardship Program