DENVER – The 2008 BLM Colorado Volunteer Report is now available online. Last year volunteers contributed 172,354 hours of work – equivalent to 82 people working full time for one year - for the Bureau of Land Management throughout Colorado.

Volunteer work in 2008 was equivalent to nearly $3.4 million of paid labor.  In fact, Colorado has one of the Bureau’s leading volunteer programs in the nation. Last year, nearly 4,000 volunteers worked on public lands throughout the state.

Last month BLM named Ken Emory of Montrose BLM 2008 Volunteer of the Year for Colorado. This annual award recognizes members of the public whose outstanding volunteerism and commitment to public lands help the BLM succeed in its multiple-use mission. Emory volunteered more than 280 hours with BLM.

Generally, volunteer opportunities include: building and maintaining trails, assisting biologists with research, performing office support tasks, maintaining interpretive sites, serving as campground hosts or trail guides, inventorying and identifying plants, re-vegetating wildlife and riparian areas, installing signs and fences, constructing or maintaining facilities, assisting with habitat improvement projects, monitoring watershed studies, and preserving and cataloging cultural artifacts.

Visit the BLM Colorado volunteer page at www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Resources/volunteers.html to view the report.

Editor' Note: 4x4Wire.com recognizes the contributions of volunteers to help the agencies keep public lands open for recreation opportunity.  All wheelers are encouraged to participate in the many opportunities to assist keeping public lands open for recreation.  It is your land, your recreation, your opportunity.