Ongoing changes in our climate, population growth and rapid development will create challenging conditions for Durango’s community forest, comprised of over 12,000 trees. The future of these invaluable resources, ones we have invested in for over a century, will be the subject of the sixth Durango Botanic Gardens’ Envisioning a Changing DurangoScape 2026. The popular conference series considers how climate change and other factors are impacting the region’s forests, cityscapes, and residential landscaping.

“We may not fully recognize some of the challenges facing our community forest,” says Bill LeMaire, president of the Durango Botanic Gardens. “This event will seek to remind us of how central this resource is to our economy and quality of life, but also explore strategies for protecting this asset from evolving threats.”

Attendees will hear from local experts as well as the chief foresters from Grand Junction and Fort Collins on how cities across Colorado are responding to challenges to their urban forest.

The Durango Botanic Gardens produces the conference with assistance and sponsorship from Momentum Tree Experts and the La Plata County Tree Study Group.