Department of Defense (DOD) and CESU Projects
SOURCES OF FUNDING WITHIN DOD
The Department of Defense has two different conservation funding programs which supplement Installation
Operations and Management (O&M) funding. Different from other sister Federal Agencies that allocate yearly
funds for CESU projects, the Department of Defense funds CESU projects through O&M funding, SERDP or
Legacy funding. An overview of these three different sources of funds is as follows:

The Legacy Resource Management Program
The Legacy Program provides financial assistance to the Department of Defense (DoD) projects that conserve and
enhance our natural and cultural heritage. The program assists DoD in protecting and enhancing resources while
supporting military readiness. A Legacy project may involve regional ecosystem management initiatives, habitat
preservation efforts, cultural resource management, invasive species control, cooperative conservation, and/or
monitoring and predicting migratory patterns of birds and animals.

Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program
SERDP is DoD’s corporate environmental research and development (R&D) program, planned and executed in full
partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with
participation by numerous other Federal and non-Federal organizations. Within its new broad areas of interest, the
Program focuses on Sustainable Infrastructure Munitions Management, Environmental Restoration, and Weapons
Systems and Platforms.

Installation’s O&M funding.
Each installation funds recurring operations and maintenance projects as described in the installation’s Integrated
Natural Resource Management Plan. The plan establishes management practices that support military readiness
while sustaining aspects of a facility’s natural resources.
DOD’s CHALLENGES
Readiness and Range Sustainment
The military’s ability to fight and win our nation’s wars is tied directly to readiness resulting from realistic test and
training exercises. DoD is interested in projects that mitigate or resolve the adverse impacts of encroachment on
DoD lands, and help sustain military ranges and operating areas for future use. Efforts that protect wildlife and
natural resources while protecting military training and testing areas from incompatible development, and projects
that can quantify and track the effects of encroachment on readiness are encouraged.
Integrated Natural Resources Management
Habitat enhancement can improve training conditions by minimizing disturbance of natural landscapes and
increasing vegetative cover. Through the implementation of INRMPs, DoD land managers can determine how best
to minimize negative impacts of diverse and sometimes conflicting requirements. INRMPs promote natural habitat
restoration and protection, thereby preventing the listing of additional plant and animal species.
National and International Initiatives
DoD emphasizes active participation in national partnerships such as the North American Bird Conservation
Initiative (NABCI) and National Public Lands Day (NPLD), which permit DoD to benefit from economies of scale,
and heightened awareness of its environmental program. We also continue to support our Coral Reef and
Chesapeake Bay initiatives. We will invest in other national and international initiatives that complement DoD
conservation objectives.
Regional Ecosystem Management Initiatives
Regional management plans protect current military readiness and provide increased flexibility to respond to new
missions through adaptive management, sustainable use for ecological and human purposes, and the best available
science. They also promote the protection of species on adjacent non-DoD lands, thereby encouraging partnerships
and reducing the management burden to DoD.
Invasive Species Control
Invasive species can adversely affect military readiness and create fire and safety hazards. Control and restoration
efforts are often required to protect sensitive natural resources from invasive species. DoD is interested in habitat
enhancement, particularly through control of exotic pests and promotion of natural species, to minimize disturbance
of natural landscapes and increase vegetative cover, thereby controlling a growing threat to environmental security
and improving training conditions.
Monitoring & Predicting Migratory Patterns of Birds
These efforts help to prevent bird strikes with resultant loss of personnel and equipment, while also preventing
inadvertent harm to bird species. Main issues are long-term monitoring of migratory bird and animal habitat use and
survivorship; monitoring and predictive modeling of movements during migration and in response to training
activities using radar and satellite tracking; and monitoring birds of prey and waterbirds on training lands to comply
with legal requirements.
Cooperative Conservation
The Department of Defense supports efforts that promote “cooperative conservation” through the proper inclusion
of local participation in Federal decision-making. Cooperative conservation activities are those that promote the
protection, use, enhancement or enjoyment of natural resources on military lands by collaborative action among
Federal, State, Tribal and local governments, other nongovernmental entities, and private institutions.
Cultural Resources Management
The protection of cultural resources associated with our national heritage is a fundamental part of DoD's primary
mission. By each installation developing an integrated cultural resources management plan (ICRMP), DoD
recognizes its responsibility to manage cultural resources in a wise and effective manner. Projects of interest to DoD
would enhance DoD's ability to access, evaluate, and use existing inventory data, projects that use research and
development to support cultural resource management on military installations, projects that develop historic
context studies, improve management and reduce costs of historic military family housing units and enhance the
preservation and management of Cold War resources.
Historic Preservation and Force Protection
Heritage conservation and disaster management in the United States are two fields that depend on a working
relationship at the federal, state and local levels. A renewed focus toward historic preservation occurred following
September 11, 2001 and with it an awareness of the often difficult task of maintaining the historic integrity of an
historic site while making it secure for people to work, live in, and visit. DoD needs comprehensive historic
preservation plans that provide adequate security measures while at the same time enhance the unique character of
the installation's cultural environment.
Native American Issues
As a result of military activities and archaeological excavations within their installations, DoD currently cares for
many cultural items and Native American human remains. In addition, military activities and operations may
adversely impact traditional and current life way patterns of these groups. DoD is interested in assisting projects that
facilitate DoD-wide or regional efforts that seek to protect, manage, and/or restore resources in these areas in a
manner supportive of military activities and operations, and meet our trust obligations to Federally recognized
tribes.
Curation of Archaeological Collections, Associated Records and Documents and Management of
Archaeological Sites
DoD owns or controls more archaeological resources than any other Federal agency. Increasing concern in DoD
focuses on balancing proper management of archaeological resources with ongoing training needs. DoD has an
immediate need for studies evaluating possible encroachment of archaeological sites on training areas. DoD also has
an immediate need to develop sustainable deaccessioning and collections management policies. We will continue to
invest in the rehabilitation of at-risk DoD collections and to develop partnerships to curate these collections.