 Military lands are comprised of over 30 million acres that are largely protected from development and that represent diverse habitat types and contain a wealth of plant and animal life. They preserve ecologically important native habitats such as old-growth forests, tall-grass prairies, and vernal pool wetlands. In many cases, these lands are havens for rare and unique plant and animal species.
The Sikes Act recognizes the importance and value of military lands to natural resources. It seeks to ensure that these ecosystems are protected and enhanced while allowing the military lands to continue to meet the needs of military operations.
Policy
Accordingly, the Sikes Act requires the Department of Defense (DoD) to develop and implement Integrated Natural Resources Management Plans (INRMPs) for military installations across the United States. The law was originally enacted in 1960. INRMPs are prepared cooperation with the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and State fish and wildlife agencies to ensure proper consideration of fish, wildlife, and habitat needs. INRMPs are required at almost 380 military installations across the Nation, and direct the management and use of the lands on these installations.
Amendments to the Sikes Act required all INRMPs to be completed by November of 2001. These plans are reviewed every year by military installations, and modified as needed. The Sikes Act requires INRMPs to be reviewed at least every 5 years with the Service and States. The military and the USFWS established guidance to assist installations, the USFWS, and state fish and wildlife agencies with the INRMP review and concurrence process. This guidance provides direction to Service staff for the development, implementation and subsequent reviews of INRMPs required by the Sikes Act. In addition, public input is requested during an open comment period. The following documents describe the process:
DoD Guidance for the Implementation of the Sikes Act Improvement Act
Additional DoD Guidance Concerning INRMP Reviews.
USFWS Guidance for Coordination on Department of Defense Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans.
Annual Reports
The Service is required to submit an Annual Sikes Act Report to Congress on the amounts expended by the Department of the Interior and the State fish and wildlife agencies on conservation activities conducted pursuant to INRMPs.
Reports are available for the following years:
INRMP Assistance
The Sikes Act and the INRMPs it requires integrate many different aspects of natural resource management. Through the Sikes Act, the Service helps military installations manage their natural resources by providing expertise on the following issues:
The Service has designated Regional FWS Sikes Act Coordinators in order to help meet the needs for coordinating regular INRMP reviews with the military, the State fish and wildlife agencies and Service programs.
In addition to technical assistance that the USFWS provides to the military, the USFWS can enter into interagency agreements with installations to help implement INRMPs. These INRMP implementation projects can include wildlife and habitat assessments and surveys, fish stocking, exotic species control, and hunting and fishing program management. To facilitate these interagency agreements between the USFWS, the military, and the third party of the Sikes Act, state fish and wildlife agencies, the Sikes Act MOU was revised in January 2006. The new MOU lists the authorities available to the three parties of the Sikes Act.
The Service values our partnership with the DoD, and the importance of military lands to maintaining species survival and diversity. In 2004, in appreciation for the hard work the military has done for conservation, the Service created a new award called the “Military Conservation Partner Award." This annual, non-monetary award recognizes the contributions of a military installation that has worked in partnership with the Service resulting significant conservation accomplishments. The award is designed to underscore the importance the Service places on communication, consultation, and cooperation – all in the service of conservation.
For further information regarding the Sikes Act and DoD Environmental Programs go to the Defense Environmental Network and Information eXchange, https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/denix.html |
