Governor Jared Polis has announced the formation of a new task force in response to a significant mountain pine beetle outbreak affecting Colorado’s Front Range ponderosa forests. Joined by forestry experts and local leaders, Polis outlined executive actions intended to protect communities, water resources, and the state’s outdoor recreation economy over the coming decade.
“Colorado has long been a leader in forest health and fire mitigation efforts, and this is no exception. As the latest outbreak of pine beetles begins to take shape along the densely populated Front Range, we are taking an aggressive approach to boost tools and partnerships to help protect our communities, forests, and key water sources, and equipping homeowners with the resources they need to better protect their homes. I am grateful to our local partners, foresters, and leaders across sectors for helping us take action on this issue,” said Governor Polis.
The newly created Ponderosa Mountain Pine Beetle Task Force will be led by the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, the Colorado State Forester, and the Director of the Division of Fire Prevention and Control. The 20-member group will include representatives from local governments, utilities, recreation and tourism industries, insurance providers, housing authorities, conservation organizations, timber companies, wildfire management professionals, federal agencies, and philanthropic groups.
“I’m grateful to Governor Polis for creating the Ponderosa Mountain Pine Beetle Task Force, and as the Ranking Member on the U.S. House Subcommittee on Federal Lands am grateful for the opportunity to work together to save Colorado’s treasured forests. Hotter and drier climates, along with the year-round threat of wildfires, have weakened our trees’ natural defenses — as we are now witnessing across the Front Range — and we must act decisively to manage and ameliorate the impacts of spiking pine beetle populations to improve forest health,” said Congressman Neguse.
“In Colorado, our public lands are core to who we are, and protecting them is critical to our way of life,” said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. “Mountain pine beetles have devastated millions of acres of forest across our state, increasing the risk of wildfires and threatening the health of our forests. I’m glad to see Governor Polis taking action to address this growing threat and protect our forests so future generations can continue to enjoy Colorado’s outdoor spaces for years to come.”
Aerial surveys conducted in 2025 by both federal and state forestry services indicate that mountain pine beetle infestations are spreading throughout ponderosa pine stands along major corridors such as U.S. 285 and I-70. The expansion is attributed largely to ongoing drought conditions combined with warmer temperatures that have reduced natural barriers against beetle survival.
State officials highlight that early intervention is necessary not only for reducing wildfire risks but also for maintaining insurability in affected regions. Dead trees resulting from beetle activity increase hazards for emergency responders as well as residents living near forested areas.
“This mountain pine beetle outbreak is emerging in one of the most heavily populated, heavily recreated regions of Colorado. This task force ensures we are coordinating action across agencies, landowners, industries, and communities to respond quickly and prepare for the long-term realities of changed ponderosa pine forests, addressing wildfire risk and watershed impacts facing the Front Range,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources.
“We have learned a lot in the past two decades about what to expect from mountain pine beetle outbreaks, and we will apply those lessons to this outbreak in the ponderosa pine. Our commitment is to address the full problem: treating the forests, building resilient communities, and ensuring our fire response is the best in the nation,” said Mike Morgan, Director of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.
Additional legislative proposals will accompany these actions—including tax incentives for using wood from beetle-killed trees; enhanced support for homeowners undertaking fire mitigation; expanded research into managing beetle populations; increased collaboration with federal agencies through programs like Good Neighbor Authority; plus funding requests targeting both immediate needs such as community outreach as well as long-term research initiatives.
“Bark beetle outbreaks are not new to Colorado. We’ve been here before, and we know what works. This task force will strengthen partnerships and ensure science-based management guides our response in support of communities across the state. This is not a time to panic. It’s a time to ramp up and take action to reduce the impacts of this outbreak and ensure we never allow our forests to become this vulnerable ever again,” said Matthew McCombs, State Forester and Director of the Colorado State Forest Service.
“The Forest Service is committed to working collaboratively with our partners across Colorado to improve forest health conditions at the landscape level and reduce impact of expanding mountain pine beetle populations,” said Troy Heithecker with U.S. Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Region.
The scope for this new task force includes improving cross-jurisdictional coordination among stakeholders; developing educational materials for residents; evaluating strategies that safeguard watersheds; supporting outdoor recreation economies; planning reforestation efforts; advancing wildfire detection technologies; assessing timber markets utilizing affected wood; exploring insurance solutions related specifically toward fire risk changes; identifying new funding mechanisms; implementing relevant federal recommendations regarding wildfire prevention.
Further details about appointments or opportunities for public input will be released by early 2026.
