DCERP Defense Coastal/Estuarine Research Program Workshop Proceedings
Abstract
The DoD serves as guardian for approximately 25 million acres of land, large offshore operating areas, and the surrounding airspace. DoD is responsible for protecting more threatened and endangered species (TES) per acre than any other federal land manager. Additionally, DoD is committed to the protection of cultural artifacts and sensitive habitats that exist on U.S. military installations. These diverse and complex systems must be managed wisely to allow for realistic military testing and training activities, while simultaneously ensuring environmental protection. Since the 1990s, DoD developed a wide range of policy guidance that established a requirement for managing ecosystems rather than single species. This approach broadens the scope from site-specific assessments to a regional, or ecosystem-based, focus. Ecosystem management is one component of DoD s ongoing effort to achieve sustainability in minimizing the impact of military training so that installations can continue to provide realistic training. Given that the U.S. military lives and trains in nearly every terrain, climate, and vegetative context across the nation, this represents a significant challenge.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA637478