l. peter boice deputy director, natural resources
TRANSCRIPT
Natural Resources in DoD Current Issues and Program Priorities
L. Peter BoiceDeputy Director, Natural Resources
1. Hot Issue: Candidate Species2. Policy and Guidance 3. Evaluating DoD’s Natural Resource
Programs4. Tools and Training5. Partnerships6. Looking Ahead
Current Issues and Goals
1. CANDIDATE SPECIES
Center for Biological Diversity and Wild Earth Guardians filed suit with USFWS on 757 species
Judge approved settlement September 10, 2011 USFWS agreed to:
A 6-year schedule for final listing decisions on 251 species on the candidate list
Developing initial findings on 506 other species Formal data call to DoD Components
Key species Level of concern (Red, Yellow, Green, White) Information available
Background
LEVEL OF CONCERN ARMY NAVY
MARINE CORPS
AIR FORCE TOTAL
RED 6 0 1 1 8
ORANGE 25 6 1 3 29
YELLOW 45 38 3 4 71
TOTALS 72 43 5 6 110
Level of ConcernSUMMARY RESULTS
Red knot (3 Military Services; 31 installations)
Greater sage grouse Washington ground squirrel Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly Streaked horned lark Roy prairie pocket gopher Louisiana pine snake Lesser prairie chicken
Key Species Identified
Collect updates through FY 2013 EMR
Implement processes that ensure INRMPs adequately address candidate species on an ongoing basis
Ensure INRMPs are up-to-date
Next Steps
2. POLICY AND GUIDANCE
DoDI 4715.03 INRMP Implementation Manual Tripartite MOU Migratory Bird MOU DoD Partners in Flight Plan DoD Partners in Amphibian and Reptile
Conservation Plan
Current and Pending Documents
Purposes
Improve the integration of mission and stewardship
Integrate a conservation ethic throughout DoD
Facilitate military readiness and cost-effective policies through sustained use of natural resources
Identify opportunities for improved cooperation, information sharing, technology demonstration and transfer, and public communications
www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/471503p.pdf
Natural Resources ConservationInstruction, DoDI 4715.03
General INRMP provisions Coordination, review and public comment Implementation and special management Ecosystem-based management INRMP contents
In Formal Coordination
INRMP Implementation Manual
Clarifies definitions for: Compliant INRMP INRMP Review INRMP Update INRMP Revision
Streamlined review process Anticipate by end of June Companion USFWS Sikes Act Guidance Update
To be published NLT September 2013 Definitions consistent w/ MOU Help ensure USFWS input to annual Focus Area
metrics
Sikes Tripartite MOU
Adds responsibilities for implementing Executive Order 13186
Clarifies information sharing among Migratory Bird Council members
Provides guidance for implementing changes in cantonment areas and best practices for non-readiness activities (e.g., reducing amount of reflective glass, using native plants for landscaping)
Anticipate update before end of fiscal year
Migratory Bird MOU
3. Evaluating DoD’s Natural Resource
Programs
Natural Resource Metrics Goals:
Evaluate effectiveness of natural resources support to the military mission
Assess overall health and trends of each installation's natural resources program
Identify and correct potential funding and other resource shortfalls
Natural Resources Focus Areas
FY04 FY05 FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY 10 FY 11
Installations 4 29 2 2 1 8 0 5
5
15
25
35
Num
ber
of I
nsta
llati
ons
Critical Habitat Designation Avoidance
INRMPs and Critical Habitat Exclusions51 installations and satellites have used INRMP exclusion: 4(a)(3)(B); 22 more than once
Majority of recent occurrences – Hawaii plants99 total difference species
34 bases used readiness exclusion: 4(b)(2)1 since 2006 (two coral species)
Front office query – what do we get for this level of investment?
Conservation Expenditures
FY 2011
FY 2012
FY 2013
FY 2014
REQUEST $320M
$380M $379M $363M
ESTIMATE $325M
$408M $380M
ACTUAL $394M
$388M
Program Budget ElementsPROPOSED
Manpower Education and Training (Natural) Listed and At-Risk Species
Endangered Species Act Wetlands
Clean Water Act Natural Resources Conservation & Rehabilitation
Sikes Act Marine Mammal Protection Act Other Natural Resources
Migratory Bird Treaty Act Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act
4. TOOLS AND TRAINING
Purposes Define Needs and Address Gaps
Information Exchange
Strategic Planning
Sikes and ESA courses developed and implemented. Now online only: www.Dodworkshops.org/Training.html
No additional Legacy-sponsored course offerings projected
Evaluating alternative training methods e.g., webinars, distant learning
Natural Resources Courses
www.dodworkshops.org/Workshops.html
Informational Workshops
Biodiversity www. Dodbiodiversity.org
Invasive Species Outreach www.dodinvasives.org
Other Tools
5. PARTNERSHIPS
Improve understanding of DoD mission and stewardship needs
Place DoD lands into larger regional context, and leverage resources across geopolitical boundaries
Enhance resource sharing and cost efficiencies
Ease INRMP approval and implementation Increase management flexibility Demonstrate DoD’s community engagement
Why Partner?
Economy Act (31 USC 1535 and 1536)
Sikes Act (16 USC 670c-1)
Legacy Program (10 USC 2694)
REPI (10 USC 2684a)
Authority to Partner
Internal DoD
External – Federal US Fish and Wildlife Service USDA Forest Service Bureau of Land Management
External - NGO National Military Fish and Wildlife Association Cooperative Ecosystem Study Units Cooperative Conservation Non-Profit Organizations
Partnership Efforts
Internal DoD DoD Readiness and Environmental Protection
Initiative (REPI): www.denix.osd.mil/sri/repi
DoD Partners in Flight: http://dodpif.org
DoD Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation: www.parcplace.org/resources/dod-parc.html
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Key partner – regulator Regular meetings between DoD
NR Program and Ecological Services,Migratory Bird, and Endangered Species offices
Award-winning outcomes• 2012 Presidential Migratory Bird Stewardship
Award (Burrowing Owls)• 2013 Military Conservation Partner
Award (Naval Base Coronado)
Federal Agencies
Coalition of military installation natural resource managers and contractors
Future: more webinars and other online resources
External: National Military Fish and Wildlife Association (NMFWA)
Currently a member of 15 CESU units CESU – New Regions for 2013
Pacific Northwest, Great Basin Ft. Worth District
FY12: 62 new and 65 continuing projects $34.0M Sliding scale fee
External: Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESUs)
Regional Partnerships Ecosystem Management Initiatives SE Regional Partnership for Planning and
Sustainability (SERPPAS) and Western Regional partnership (WRP)
Cooperative Invasive Species Management AreasLocally Implemented Partnerships
National Public Lands Day Bat Conservation International National Wild Turkey Federation Ducks Unlimited
External: Cooperative Conservation
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Caught in the Crosshairs: Combating the Illegal Wildlife Trade in Iraq &
Afghanistan www.wcswildlifetrade.org/military
Pollinator Partnership Variety of project funded, primarily through National Public
Lands Day www.pollinator.org
National Wildlife Federation Scanning the Conservation Horizon: A Guide
to Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment www.nwf.org/vulernabiltyguide
The Wildlife Society New Military Working Group www.wildlife.org/subunits/working-groups
External: Non-Profit Groups
6. LOOKING AHEAD
Limited travel – mission essential Alternative means of communications
Compliance-driven requirements will dominate budget decisions (e.g., Listed and at-risk species)
FWS expected to propose additional changes to ESA rules and policies
Continued off-base partnership opportunities Climate change focus → missions and facilities Sustainability (e.g., water)
Looking Ahead
Websites DoDNaturalResources.net DENIX.osd.mil/NaturalResources DoDLegacy.org
Natural Selections Newsletters Publications/Brochures YouTube Animations
http://dodnaturalresources.net/Animation.html www.youtube.com/watch?v=zipNe0rnu3E
Social Media DoD Facebook and Blog Twitter: @DoDNatRes
Outreach
Questions?