None The Nature Conservancy in Florida Press Releases Search All Press Releases Jill Austin Phone: (407) 682-3664, ext. 129 E-mail: jaustin@tnc.org

Florida Forever Buffers Florida Military Bases to Protect Economy and Ecosystems

The Nature Conservancy works with state and federal programs to buy conservation land adjacent to military bases.

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL—February 6, 2008—The $52 billion in economic benefits the military and defense industries provide in Florida face two major threats: development encroachment on bases and the loss of healthy habitats for native species throughout the state. To address these threats and grow the economic strength of the military, bases must be protected by acquiring conservation lands important to the military, The Nature Conservancy said today in response to a study released Feb. 1 that shows an $8 billion increase in military economic benefits over the past two years — or the equivalent of 9 percent per year.

An invigorated Florida Forever program combined with federal dollars allocated for base buffering will help protect Florida bases from future realignments or closures, according to the Conservancy and officials from the Florida Defense Alliance, an organization created within Enterprise Florida in 1998 to ensure that Florida, its military bases and its military host communities are improving base efficiencies.

“Our Florida military have been skillful managers of the wildlife and habitats on their properties allowing a multitude of plant and animal species to thrive alongside testing and training operations,” said Jeff Danter, Florida director of The Nature Conservancy. “We are constantly looking to enhance the value of these sites by acquiring the important buffers and habitat connectors to these bases.”

For example, The Nature Conservancy and the state recently acquired 11,313 acres of the long-sought Yellow River Ravines Florida Forever project, which links outstanding natural areas in Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) with those in Blackwater River State Forest. The Florida Division of Forestry will manage the Yellow River lands as part of the Blackwater River State Forest. The protected area will continue to provide critical habitat for black bears and other rare species.

"Our once-remote bases face increasing urban sprawl that restricts training and testing. Protecting adjacent conservation lands is an excellent solution and fortunately one that is still available in Florida. The Department of Defense recognizes and appreciates the need to work with partners such as Florida's highly successful Florida Forever program to share these costs,” said Alex Beehler, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Environment, Safety and Occupational Health.

A 2007 RAND Corporation report commissioned by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and using Eglin AFB for an in-depth study of base protection needs, concluded that the base buffer program was effective in guarding against such restrictions. The RAND report warned that there was a narrow window of opportunity to address these concerns, and called for sharply increased funding to be made available for base buffering partnerships.

“The United States Navy, and in particular Navy Region Southeast, has benefited greatly from the Florida Forever program in preserving biodiversity and in limiting incompatible growth adversely impacting Florida's Naval Bases,” said Rear Admiral MikeVitale, Commander Navy Region Southeast.

“The United States Navy committed $5.03 million for land acquisition that requires cost sharing from sources such as the Florida Forever program; without funding from such sources, the federal funding may be lost,” Admiral Vitale said. “Navy Region Southeast believes it is vital that we preserve our ability to work together to ensure that we can continue our successful and important conservation and encroachment-prevention partnership."

“Lights from development hinder night-vision training, some flight operations can create noise complaints, and housing near drop zones interferes with parachute training. To maintain our military readiness we need to protect our military installations and critical airspace. We greatly appreciate Florida Forever projects designed to link conservation lands and provide natural buffers against incompatible development that would adversely impact Florida's many military installations,” said Robert Arnold, chairman, Mission Enhancement Committee, Eglin AFB.

“The cost of not buffering is that the both the military and the ecological value of Florida's bases could be seriously compromised. The bases are a vital resource for the military, Florida’s economy and for wildlife, and we all need to work together to protect these tremendous assets to our nation and our state” said Deborah Keller, The Nature Conservancy’s Senior Policy Representative for Department of Defense Conservation Partnerships.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. With funding from the voter approved Florida Forever program and our generous donors the Conservancy has helped protect more than 1.2 million acres in Florida since 1961. Visit us on the Web at nature.org/florida.