Virtually all of the following issues are closely intertwined with the topics above and most refer the reader to additional information and guidance found throughout this manual.
Invasive species
In some cases, invasive species directly affect military training operations. On almost every DoD installation—as elsewhere—invasive species are having a deleterious effect on the natural resources. Military invasive species issues involve efforts to control the introduction or spread of invasive species due to military operations (e.g. return shipments to the U.S. of military equipment from overseas deployments, discharge of ballast water by Navy vessels in U.S. ports, etc.) to the control of invasive species on military lands. Efforts to deal with this issue are being addressed primarily through the DoD Armed Forces Pest Management Board and by the individual services’ natural resources guidance.23
22 https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2021/01/27/climate-change-is-now-a-national-securitypriority-for-the-pentagon/
23 https://www.acq.osd.mil/eie/afpmb/
The DoD has issued guidance, via a memorandum for the implementation of Executive Order 13112, Invasive Species.24
The FY 2004 Defense Authorization Act (Section 311-c) also contained legislation establishing a pilot program for the control of invasive species on military lands in Guam. This effort is mainly focused on the control of the brown tree snake and enhances earlier legislative efforts to address this serious issue.25
Chapter 10 of this handbook provides a more in-depth look at invasive species issues and management strategies on DoD lands.
Next Page: Wetlands regulations
Author
J. Douglas Ripley, Environmental Consultant U.S. Air Force (Retired)
With updates and Additional contributions by: James van Ness, Senior Level Attorney Advisor Office of the Secretary of Defense
Other issues of conservation significance and the policies which govern them
Other issues of conservation significance and the policies which govern them
Cooperation conservation efforts