Camp Ripley Protects its Mission and Conserves
Minnesota’s Natural Resources
Camp Ripley partners with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and The Nature Conservancy
Little Falls, Minn. – February 2, 2004-- Camp Ripley, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and The Nature Conservancy have formed a unique partnership to conserve some of Minnesota’s critical natural resources while protecting lands bordering Camp Ripley in order to maintain the future viability of Camp Ripley’s mission.
With increased military activity around the globe, it’s important now more than ever to ensure adequate training capabilities for our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines. As the U.S. Department of Defense prepares our armed forces for combat, they are also working with organizations to protect the nation’s natural resources in and around the country’s military installations, including Camp Ripley in Minnesota.
Last year, the Department of Defense received Congressional authority to approve partnerships with states and non-profit conservation organizations to preserve habitat and reduce encroachment on military operations. When surrounding areas are too intensively developed, the military often loses training flexibility and the ability to adapt to future mission needs. Lasting and comprehensive conservation management is essential, if the armed forces are to continue to effectively train soldiers.
The Nature Conservancy and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources have been working with Camp Ripley on a variety of land management practices for several years. In fact, just this past spring, The Nature Conservancy and Camp Ripley cooperated on thousands of acres of prescribed fire to revitalize the natural landscape. Because Department of Defense lands tend to be large and not subject to the same kinds of development pressures and intense land uses as other properties, they tend to harbor a disproportionate amount of biological diversity.
At Camp Ripley, the Minnesota National Guard is proposing a compatible land use program know as the Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program. This program has identified priority areas within a land buffer adjacent to Camp Ripley. Landowners within the buffer can participate in a voluntary program to protect their lands from development, and thereby safeguard the public from noise, smoke, and dust. Furthermore, the program will provide an important buffer that will ensure Camp Ripley’s viability as a military training site into the future. Compatible land uses such as agriculture, forestry, and recreation will be encouraged in this voluntary program, which will also serve to protect the rural character of the area.
Camp Ripley, a state-owned military training site in Central Minnesota, serves as the primary field training facility for the Minnesota Army National Guard. It is responsible for training thousands of soldiers from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Ohio, and Illinois. The Camp is one of the largest employers in Central Minnesota employing over 500 full-time and 1,000 part-time personnel. Last year alone, Camp Ripley’s economic impact to the local economy exceeded $142 million.
Camp Ripley and the surrounding areas are of particular concern to The Nature Conservancy. “The forest, savannas and grasslands here are critical to the survival of many wildlife species,” said Garth Fuller, Program Director for The Nature Conservancy in Central Minnesota. “Wildlife species of particular interest include rare forest birds such as the red-shouldered hawk and hooded warbler, as well as bald eagle, white-tailed deer and timber wolf,” Fuller added.
Camp Ripley is not new to conservation. “We have an award winning environmental management program here,” said LTC Richard Weaver, Camp Ripley Post Commander “We are thrilled that while protecting the future viability of our training site, we can also preserve and protect some of Minnesota’s natural resources.”
The Nature Conservancy is currently working with the U.S. Department of Defense on conservation projects in several states including Georgia and Florida. Ron Nargang, State Director for The Nature Conservancy said, “we are hopeful that with the support of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, local units of government, and communities surrounding the Camp, we can protect some important natural areas for future Minnesotans to enjoy.”
National Guard Bureau and The U.S. Army Headquarters area currently reviewing Camp Ripley’s ACUB proposal and a decision is expected this February. A favorable response will result in funding for the Minnesota National Guard to begin implementing the ACUB. Meanwhile, LTC Richard Weaver and his staff have been briefing local units of government and other interest groups about the ACUB proposal. These briefings have resulted in resolutions of support for the proposal.
|
