L. Peter Boice Deputy Director, Natural Resources 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Hot Issue: Candidate Species Policy and Guidance Evaluating DoD’s Natural Resource Programs Tools and Training Partnerships Looking Ahead 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 Level of Concern SUMMARY RESULTS LEVEL OF CONCERN ARMY NAVY MARINE CORPS RED 6 0 1 1 8 ORANGE 25 6 1 3 29 YELLOW 45 38 3 4 71 TOTALS 72 43 5 6 110 AIR FORCE TOTAL 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 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 DoDI 4715.03 INRMP Implementation Manual Tripartite MOU Migratory Bird MOU DoD Partners in Flight Plan DoD Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Plan 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 General INRMP provisions Coordination, review and public comment Implementation and special management Ecosystem-based management INRMP contents In Formal Coordination 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 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 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 Number of Installations 40 30 20 10 0 Installations FY04 FY05 FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY 10 FY 11 4 29 2 2 1 8 0 5 INRMPs and Critical Habitat Exclusions 51 installations and satellites have used INRMP exclusion: 4(a)(3)(B); 22 more than once Majority of recent occurrences – Hawaii plants 99 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? FY 2011 FY 2013 FY 2014 REQUEST $320M $380M $379M $363M ESTIMATE $325M $408M $380M ACTUAL FY 2012 $394M $388M 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 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 www.dodworkshops.org/Workshops.html Biodiversity www. Dodbiodiversity.org Invasive Species Outreach www.dodinvasives.org 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 Economy Sikes Act (16 USC 670c-1) Legacy REPI Act (31 USC 1535 and 1536) Program (10 USC 2694) (10 USC 2684a) Internal DoD External – Federal External - NGO US Fish and Wildlife Service USDA Forest Service Bureau of Land Management National Military Fish and Wildlife Association Cooperative Ecosystem Study Units Cooperative Conservation Non-Profit Organizations 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) Coalition of military installation natural resource managers and contractors Future: more webinars and other online resources 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 Regional Partnerships Ecosystem Management Initiatives SE Regional Partnership for Planning and Sustainability (SERPPAS) and Western Regional partnership (WRP) Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas Locally Implemented Partnerships National Public Lands Day Bat Conservation International National Wild Turkey Federation Ducks Unlimited 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 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) 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 Peter.Boice@osd.mil