Pine beetle task force recommends potential solutions to Front Range outbreak

By Amanda Williams
Colorado Public Radio
September 22, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, US West

The state task force convened by Gov. Jared Polis to address the outbreak of a destructive beetle released a draft list of recommendations Tuesday. …The group, which includes dozens of people from different state agencies, universities and conservation groups, has been meeting since February, and is facing a fast-approaching deadline to make recommendations in time for next year’s legislative session. …Out of the ideas on the draft list, the task force discussed their top five on Tuesday, including building forestry workforce training programs, incentives for increasing logging and processing of beetle-kill timber, and improving statewide fire resource planning. …Members of the task force are also worried about protecting the data on pine beetle kill that already exists. It’s housed on a federal interface and could be deleted at any time. …Another recommendation sent back to the drawing board involved tax credits or grants for a new wood processing facility to mill and destroy beetle-killed timber.

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