Colorado rural lawmakers raise concerns over State Land Board Director’s background
Colorado lawmakers from the state legislature’s Rural Caucus have raised concerns about the appointment of Dr. Nicole Rosmarino as director of the Colorado State Land Board (SLB), citing her ties to environmental groups that oppose traditional agricultural practices, a key component of SLB operations for generations. The caucus sent a letter Friday to Governor Jared Polis and SLB members urging accountability to ensure alignment with the agency’s constitutional mission to generate revenue for public education while supporting working lands.
The lawmakers highlighted Rosmarino’s affiliations with the Southern Plains Land Trust (SPLT) and The Rewilding Institute, both of which have advocated against livestock grazing in favor of large-scale conservation efforts. “Her long-standing advocacy for ‘rewilding’ the West raises significant concerns for rural Coloradoans,” the letter states.
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The SLB oversees state-owned lands, with revenue from leases and management activities funding public schools under the Colorado Constitution. For decades, ranchers have partnered with the agency to balance conservation, fire mitigation, wildlife habitat preservation, and economic resilience in rural communities.
In meetings with Rosmarino, Rural Caucus members emphasized that livestock grazing remains central to SLB’s stewardship model. The director assured lawmakers she values agricultural producers’ role in sustainable land management and pledged “transparency, open dialogue, and collaboration with all stakeholders,” according to the letter.
The caucus warned against a shift toward what they describe as ideological land-use approaches, stating such moves would undermine partnerships critical to rural economies and public education funding. They urged Polis and the Department of Natural Resources to ensure SLB leadership adheres strictly to its constitutional mandate.
The letter was signed by 17 members of the Rural Caucus representing both major political parties in both chambers of the General Assembly. A copy was sent to Dan Gibbs, director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources.
