STRANGE BEDFELLOWS NOT CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS AND THE MILITARY

1
STRANGE BEDFELLOWS? - NOT!CONSERVATION
ORGANIZATIONS AND THE MILITARY

• CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS
• NGA CENTER FOR BEST PRACTICES
• SEPTEMBER 17, 2004
• Bob Barnes
• Senior Policy Advisor (Department of Defense)
• The Nature Conservancy
• 
  
  bbarnes_at_tnc.org
• 
  
  703-841-7406

2
The DoD - TNC Collaboration
The Master Cooperative Agreement
Conservation groups like The Nature Conservancy,
NatureServe, and others have been partnering with
the military for many years
3
Benefits to DoD

• Species inventories and monitoring
• GIS and other data sharing
• Advice on natural resource plans
• Ecoregional conservation plans
• Hands-on conservation work
• Networking with regulators, NGOs
• Meet ESA goals

4
Benefits to Conservation

• Protect and restore biologically
• important areas
• Large areas in key ecoregions
• Contribute to ecoregional goals
• Develop and test best practices
• Model of successful partnership
• (leverage)

5
So Whats New?

• DoD has participated in on-base conservation
  partnerships and local land use planning for
  decades
• Recent major developments
• Recognition that planning alone is not enough
• Recognition that compatibility of near-in
  development, while essential, is insufficient -
  need to look state-wide for lands of military
  concern - habitat, flight paths, etc
• Recognition of the benefits of forming enduring
  partnerships involving multiple players (federal,
  state, and NGO) to address common long-term
  concerns
• Authority to expend funds to protect off-base
  lands

6
Benefits to the States

• Helps ensure the long-term viability of military
  installations - a major economic consideration
• Assistance in local land use planning, protection
  of ecologically significant lands, and
  preservation of open space/recreational
  opportunities in the face of accelerating growth
  trends

7
Benefits to the States (Cont)

• Brings a significant new partner (with ) to
  state-wide conservation efforts
• Integration of DoD conservation planning with
  Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategies
• Comprehensive use of state and federal
  conservation programs to protect lands of
  military concern
• Can be a source of revenue for State Trust Lands
• Bottom line assists in sustaining the
  ecological health of the state and the economic
  welfare and quality of life of its people

8
CURRENT BUFFER PROJECTS (FY 04/05)

• Camp Ripley, MN
• Fort Carson, CO
• Fort Bragg, NC
• Camp Lejeune, NC
• MCAS Beaufort, SC
• Fort Stewart, GA
• Townsend Range, GA
• Fort Benning, GA

• NW FL Greenway
• Camp Blanding, FL
• Whiting Field, FL
• Pensacola NAS, FL
• Fort Sill, OK
• Fort Hood, TX
• Camp Pendleton, CA
• US Army Hawaii

.
9
CampRipley
53,000 Acres
Figure No. 1 Location Map
10
(No Transcript)
11

• Ft Carson Project Overview
• Walker I
• Easement over 14,000 acres along 9 miles of
  fenceline on the south boundary
• Conservation lease over 30,000 acres
• Status Ready to go, pending funding
• Walker II
• Easement and conservation lease over 20,000
  acres along 8 miles of fenceline on the
  southeastern boundary
• Status In negotiation

12
Eglin Restricted Airspace
Military Training Routes
Tyndall MOA
Tyndall Low Level Area
Cruise Missile Corridors
Nov 2003
7
13
(No Transcript)
14
Accident potential and noise contours greater
than 65 db.
Prevent Development Along Boundary
Stillman
Area where Zone II and III artillery and blast
noise contours go off post.
Carvers Creek Tracts
Fayetteville development
Fayetteville Development
RCW Core
McCain
Johnson
Calloway
Blue Tract
Upchurch
Drop zone lost due to safety concerns
State Protected Under negotiation Future
Area where Zone II artillery or Blast noise
contours go off post.
NC Gamelands
15
Camp Pendleton
16
BUFFER PROJECTS BEING CONSIDERED (FY 06)

• All Projects from 04/05
• Fort AP Hill, VA
• MCB Quantico, VA
• Fort Campbell, KY
• Camp Atterbury, IN
• Camp Shelby, MS

• Fort Huachuca, AZ
• Fort Lewis, WA
• Fort Richardson, AK
• Camp Roberts, CA
• Jacksonville NAS
• Others?

17
Potential Buffer Projects Beyond FY 06

• All projects from FYs 04-06
• Others?
• Over time, ALL military bases and ranges will
  have buffers - the only issue is which side of
  the fenceline those buffers will be on

18
WHAT STATES HAVE DONE AND CAN DO TO HELP

• Enact specific legislation relating to land use
  planning affecting the military
• Leverage existing state conservation funding and
  planning programs
• Create specific funding mechanisms to help
  protect bases and lands of military concern
• Urge DoD and Congress to significantly increase
  DoD funding for the buffer program in FY 06 and
  beyond