As the challenges and opportunities for conserving biodiversity on military lands continue changing, DoDโs response must also evolve. Some of these challenges involve the emergence of new threats (e.g., new wildlife diseases) or intensification of existing problems (e.g., increasingly severe wildfires and drought, continued urbanization around bases). Additionally, scientific understanding of species and ecosystems continues to improve, often benefitting from advances in research methods. These include the application of environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling Page 50 of 293 techniques, the increasingly broad use of low-cost drones, and the availability of miniaturized satellite tracking devices. Similarly, there has been a continuing evolution in conservation approaches and opportunities within DoD and more broadly across the land management community. Some of these trends include a continued shift toward multi-species (rather than single species) conservation planning, a heightened emphasis on sustaining or restoring key ecological processes, and an increased focus on landscape-scale conservation and habitat connectivity. The continued evolution in DoDโs response to current and future biodiversity conservation challenges has also benefited from research and conservation innovations supported by several DoD environmental funding programs, including the Legacy Resource Management Program, Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI), Strategic Research and Development Program (SERDP), and Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP).
Since publication of the last edition of this guide in 2008 there have been several important developments in DoDโs efforts to conserve biodiversity in ways that sustain the military mission. Of particular note are: 1) a major expansion in work on buffer lands and with broader landscape collaborations; 2) continued innovation in endangered species management and recovery; and 3) efforts to address the growing risks of climate change to installations and their natural resources.
Next Page: Buffer Lands Protection
Author
Bruce Stein, Ph.D., Chief Scientist and Associate Vice President
National Wildlife Federation
Emerging Trends in DoD Biodiversity Conservation Sections
Emerging Trends in DoD Biodiversity Conservation
Flexibility in Endangered Species Management
Climate Adaption and Resilience
Box 1.3: Overview of INRMP Climate Adaptation Planning Process
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