STRANGE BEDFELLOWS? - NOT!CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS AND THE

MILITARY

CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPSNGA CENTER FOR BEST PRACTICES

SEPTEMBER 17, 2004

Bob BarnesSenior Policy Advisor (Department of Defense)

The Nature Conservancy

bbarnes@tnc.org 703-841-7406

TheThe DoDDoD - - TNCTNC CollaborationCollaboration

TheThe MasterMaster CooperativeCooperative AgreementAgreement

Conservation groups like The Nature Conservancy, NatureServe, and others have been partnering with the military for many years

• SpeciesSpecies inventoriesinventories andand monitoringmonitoring• GISGIS andand other data sharingother data sharing• Advice on natural resource plansAdvice on natural resource plans• Ecoregional conservation plansEcoregional conservation plans• Hands-on conservation workHands-on conservation work• Networking with regulators, NGOsNetworking with regulators, NGOs• Meet ESA goalsMeet ESA goals

BenefitsBenefits totoDoDDoD

Benefits to Benefits to ConservationConservation

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

So What’s 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

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

Benefits to the States (Con’t)

• 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

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 Hawai’i

.

CampRipley

53,000 Acres

Figure No. 1

Location Map

10280 Acres

3285 Acres 1150 Acres

2380Acres

Walker Phase I Conservation Easement14069 Acres

Walker Phase III Conservation Easement28953 Acres

Walker Phase II Conservation Lease20383 Acres

Colorado Springs

Fountain

El Rancho Development

Midway Ranches

Security

Colorado Springs Industrial Park

Widefield

Tire Landfill

Legend

Fort Carson Military Reservation BoundaryProposed Acquisition-Approximately 17095 AcresWalker Phase I & II Conservation EasementWalker Phase I & II Conservation LeaseWalker Phase III Conservation Easement

K

Fort Carson Military Reservation

Proposed ACUB Sites

Acreages are Approvimate

Ft Carson Project Ft Carson Project OverviewOverview

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

7

Tyndall Low Level Area

Tyndall MOA

Military Training Routes

Cruise Missile Corridors

Eglin Restricted Airspace

Nov 2003

Area where Zone II artillery or Blast noise contours go off post.

Area where Zone II and III artillery and blast noise contours go off post.

Accident potential and noise contours greater than 65 db.

Prevent Development Along Boundary

Fayetteville development

Drop zone lost due to safety concerns

Blue Tract Calloway JohnsonUpchurch

McCain

Carvers CreekTracts

Stillman

Fayetteville DevelopmentRCW Core

State

Protected

Under negotiation

FutureNC Gamelands

Camp Pendleton

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?

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

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