Posted on 04/09/2015 6:14:01 AM PDT by SandRat
FORT HUACHUCA — This southern Arizona Army post is one of two military installations chosen to use special funds to conserve land in and around the fort as part of a multiple federal agency program called Sentinel Landscapes.
The program involves federal, state, private and non-profit groups, which have committed more than $25 million in funding to support the two military installations to conserve and restore habitat, implement conservation practices and strengthen local economies, according to a Wednesday news release by the Departments of Agriculture, Defense and Interior.
Within the Fort Huachuca Sentinel Landscape, the U.S. Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Department of Defense are working with the Arizona Land and Water Trust, the Arizona Department of Forestry, and more than 40 other local, state, and federal partners to discourage incompatible land development, preserve native grassland and working ranches, and ensure the availability of scarce groundwater resources for the entire region.
Priorities include grassland and wetland restoration efforts around the Babocomari and Upper San Pedro Rivers — key habitat for the Chiricahua leopard frog, yellow-billed cuckoo, southwestern flycatcher, ocelot, and jaguar; implementation of the State of Arizona’s Forest Action Plan; and conservation of nearly 5,000 acres of working ranch lands, all of which will buffer and protect Fort Huachuca’s mission as the leading unmanned aircraft system training center in the western United States.
“The Sentinel Landscapes program provides an important way to engage partners in proactive conservation while helping ensure the preservation of working landscapes and our military readiness,” said Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. “Military lands are often home to some of our nation’s best remaining habitat for wildlife, and provide an excellent opportunity to conserve species that are threatened or endangered.”
Both locations encompass vital military ranges needed to test and train with new and advanced aircraft and communications systems necessary to meet new threats as they arise. The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership aims to preserve the working and natural lands most compatible with the military’s need for relatively undeveloped environments to conduct its sensitive testing mission, the release stated.
“This partnership is a great example of coordination and collaboration across the federal government and with private partners, demonstrating that we can have an impact well beyond what a single partner or agency can accomplish on its own,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “By connecting local citizens and organizations with our shared resources that best address their priorities, we are able to protect working lands, improve our military readiness and propel rural economic growth.”
“What excites me the most about this announcement,” said John Conger, performing the duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations and Environment, “is how this partnership will protect the test missions at Pax River and Fort Huachuca. The Sentinel Landscapes will be a magnet for conservation activities, but the real motivation at DoD is creating the buffer we need to protect these critical missions.”
How much of the $25 million is earmarked for the Fort Huachuca was not specified.
The other installation is Naval Air Station Patuxent River-Atlantic Test Ranges in Delaware and Maryland.
The first installation chosen for the program was Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, which was designated in 2013.
Compiled by Herald/Review reporter Bill Hess.
Be Still My Beating Heart.
This is just great. I’m sure the Libs will love the military now.
/sarc
And besides, what else should the military be spending our money on!?!?!
...Because nothing says National Security like a beautiful landscape...with Unicorns, Rainbows and Skittles.
I think the landscape should be pockmarked with holes made by exploding artillery shelling. The army can claim they are beneficial catchments for rain water!
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