The San Juans are the most rugged and remote of the Southern Rockies, a knot of jagged volcanic peaks in southwestern Colorado where the high country stays wild and the winters run long. Alpine tundra, spruce forest, and wildflower basins climb toward summits above thirteen and fourteen thousand feet, and the rivers that spill from them the Animas, the San Juan, the Rio Grande begin here as snowmelt in the thin air.
The organizations here protect the high wildlands and headwaters, heal the streams scarred by a century of hard-rock mining, and defend the backcountry that makes this one of the wildest corners of Colorado. Their work guards the sources, the very places where the Southwest’s water is born.
Environmental Organizations in This Bioregion
31 organizations working across this landscape.
4CORE
4CORE is a 1% for the Planet nature nonprofit partner associated with climate adaptation. Based in Durango, CO, United States of America, it is included in the Ideal...
Adaptive Sports Association
The mission of the Adaptive Sports Association is to provide outdoor, sports, and recreational experiences for people with disabilities. These activities are provide...
Coldharbour Institute
Coldharbour Institute is a learning laboratory where we demonstrate regenerative living practices that bring health to our bodies, land, and communities. It is our m...
Conejos Clean Water
The mission of Conejos Clean Water is to build public awareness and encourage advocacy and education around environmental, social, economic, and food justice issues...
Conservation Lands Foundation
Our mission is to protect, restore, and expand the National Conservation Lands through education, advocacy, and partnerships.
Conservation Legacy
Fostering conservation service in support of communities and ecosystems.
Dolores River Boating Advocates
Dolores River Boating Advocates protects and enriches the recreational and ecological values of the Dolores River through advocacy, stewardship and education.
Durango Nature Studies
Durango Nature Studies has been bringing hands-on, nature-based, science education to the Four Corners community since 1994. We teach students, adults, and families...
Durango Nordic
Durango Nordic provides opportunities for Nordic skiing and other human-powered outdoor recreation to people of all ages, skills, and backgrounds in SW Colorado
Durango Trails
Durango Trails plans, builds and maintains trails; educates trail users and creates connections.
dZi Foundation
We envision a world of thriving, inclusive, and resilient communities that have achieved shared prosperity on their terms.
Earth Law Center
Our mission is to advance ecocentric laws, policies, and governance for the well-being of Earth Community.
Fire Adapted Colorado
Connecting and empowering wildfire resilience leaders to improve wildfire outcomes in Colorado communities and landscapes.
Footprints
Footprints is an incubator for climate action.
Great Old Broads for Wilderness
Great Old Broads for Wilderness is a national grassroots organization, led by women, that engages and inspires activism to preserve and protect wilderness and wild l...
Lake Fork Valley Conservancy
The Lake Fork Valley Conservancy (LFVC) protects, enhances, and advocates for the natural integrity of the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River Basin. We achieve this thr...
La Plata Open Space Conservancy
The organizations primary exempt purpose is to permanently protect, for the benefit of the community and the general public, lands in southwest Colorado that have si...
LightHawk
LIGHTHAWK FLIES TO SAVE THE EARTH. LIGHTHAWK EXISTS BECAUSE WE KNOW EXCELLENT CONSERVATION WORK CAN BE DONE WITH AIRCRAFT. MOST CONSERVATION GROUPS ARE UNAWARE OF TH...
Mountain Roots Food Project
The programs and activities of Mountain Roots promote the holistic role that food plays in creating a healthy society on both a community and individual level, incl...
Mountain Studies Institute
Environmental research and education nonprofit providing "science people can use" to address the challenges facing the San Juan Mountains.
San Juan Citizens Alliance
San Juan Citizens Alliance advocates for clean air, pure water, and healthy lands – the foundations of resilient communities, ecosystems and economies in the San Jua...
San Juan Mountains Association (SJMA)
SJMA empowers local residents and visitors to explore, learn about, and protect the spectacular lands of Southwest Colorado.
Sheep Mountain Alliance
TO PRESERVE THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
SOIL Sangre de Cristo
Supports Regenerative Agriculture with 0% Interest Loans to food producers in the South Central Region of Colorado
Telluride Mountain Club
Preserving and enhancing Telluride's outdoor recreation.
The Telluride Foundation
The Telluride Foundation is committed to enriching the quality of life of the residents, visitors and workforce of the Telluride region. The Foundation does this by ...
Valley Floor Preservation Partners
Valley Floor Preservation Partners is a 1% for the Planet nature nonprofit partner associated with terrestrial ecosystems. Based in Telluride, CO, United States of A...