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Washington, DC - Invasive species are infiltrating military lands across the country, severely impacting the health and welfare of U.S. military forces, citizens and ecosystems, according to a new National Wildlife Federation report.

"Terrorists or natural disasters jump to mind when picturing threats to military readiness and homeland security," says Heidi Hirsh, Natural Resource Specialist at the U.S. Marine Headquarters in Washington, DC. "But few people realize that we also face the threat of nonhuman invaders. Invasive species are silently becoming entrenched in our ecosystems and pose a real threat to military facilities and readiness across the country."

"Invasive species are putting America's natural heritage in danger," says Corry Westbrook, Legislative Representative for Wildlife Conservation at the National Wildlife Federation. "They are taking hold and pushing out native plants and wildlife. We owe it to our children and grandchildren to stop invasive species from destroying America's wildlife legacy."

Under Siege: Invasive Species on Military Lands reports that invasive species are a widespread and growing problem for military instillations throughout the country. From exotic plants overrunning training lands at Camp Pendleton in California to wild boars blocking runways at Avon Park in Florida, the report reveals how invasive species are more than just a nuisance on military installations.

"Each of our military installations has a unique and important mission it is expected to carry out," says Peter Boice, Conservation Team Leader, Office of the Secretary of Defense. "Invasive species put unnecessary roadblocks in the way of achieving this mission, putting undue strain on America's defenses."

The report is the first comprehensive look at how invasive plants and animals affect military operations. It was issued by the National Wildlife Federation in cooperation with the Department of Defense. Through 12 case studies, the report details the threats of invasive species on military lands and how land managers are combating the problem at Marine Corps, Army, Navy and Air Force installations across the country. The report also serves as a call to action for the Defense Department, other federal agencies, Congress, and state and local governments to work together to develop solutions to this threat.

The Department of Defense is one of the largest landowners in the country, managing more than 400 major installations that encompass 25 million acres of land. The report illustrates how natural resources managers at military installations are challenged not only to be responsible stewards of these lands, but also to do so in a way that supports the mission of their installation.

As Westbrook points out, "after loss of habitat, invasive species are the greatest threat to the survival of native species. Military lands harbor over 350 species protected by the Endangered Species Act. As a result, installations across the country have the added duty of protecting imperiled plants and wildlife."

"Our main goal is to provide troops with realistic training so they are prepared for their missions," says Hirsh. "Controlling invasive species helps us do this, and at the same time protects the valuable natural resources that make America worth defending."

The report concludes that invasive species impair military operations in four ways. They can:

1. Negate realistic conditions for training or testing operations and/or directly limit training activities;

2. Require the diversion of funding from other natural resource or operation priorities;

3. Act as one of the leading causes of habitat destruction and biodiversity loss, which can further degrade and reduce available training land; and

4. Pose a security risk and/or create potentially life-threatening situations.

The reports states that invasive species harm installations in different ways. For example, fast burning exotic plants can increase the frequency and severity of fires. Tall invasive plants can block vision and compromise security around sensitive military facilities. More commonly, exotic plant species can render large areas of land required for training useless.

Even though many bases share the same problem, there is no comprehensive invasive species management plan or consistent funding to help develop shared solutions. According to the report, the outcome is that some installations have had great success solving their invasive species problems while others are struggling to get a handle on the problem.

"While some bases have taken it upon themselves to create detailed invasive species plans, many still deal with the problem in a reactive manner," says Westbrook. "There is no conformity or consistency with which they handle the problem."

Many installations are dealing with multiple invasive species, requiring them to prioritize efforts, the report states. As a consequence, infestations of weeds and other pests on a base go unchecked until significant damage has already occurred.

"We realize that rapid response is perhaps the best way to curb invasive species. We would like to do more," says Boice. "However, instead of winning this battle, we are at best keeping the enemy at bay."

Managing invasive species after they have become established is both a time intensive and costly venture. For example, at the Marine Corps Base in Hawaii, it took $2.5 million over 20 years to remove 20 acres of invasive mangroves from installation wetlands. Actions to prevent, detect, and control invasive species also increase the burden on soldiers and divert resources that could be used for other programs.

However, lack of resources has forced some installations to develop new and creative solutions. For example, when the U.S. Air Force cracked down on herbicide use in 1995, Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington faced the task of finding new solutions to managing the more than 16 species of invasive plants that covered the undeveloped areas of the 4500-acre base. The answer they came up with: insects. Using insect controls have reduced the weed population on the base by 30 percent and have resulted in a 50 percent reduction in herbicide use.

"We hope that by drawing attention to the problem and showing that success is possible, this report will inspire installations, landowners, and state and private organizations across the nation to develop their own invasive species management solutions," says Westbrook.

The report includes a plan of action to turn back the tide on invasives:

First, prevention must be at the forefront of invasive species management plans or policies. Unlike traditional pollutants, invasive species will not dissipate when new species stop being introduced; so stopping additional introductions is not enough. Existing populations must also be controlled or eradicated.

Second, new management tools must address entire ecosystems, not just individual species or pathways of introduction. In addition, it is vital that the environmental impacts of treatment techniques be considered and negative impacts minimized to the greatest extent possible.

Third, action must be taken on several levels. Management plans, education and outreach, funding, research, and sound policy at all levels of government are ways to address the problem on multiple fronts.

"We are at a critical moment in this battle," says Hirsh. "There is still time to turn the tide before the costs become insurmountable and the problem escalates beyond control. We applaud Department of Defense and military personnel for the work they have done so far. We will continue to work closely with the Defense Department to find successful ways to combat invasive species for the sake of America's people and wildlife."

The National Wildlife Federation is America's conservation organization protecting wildlife for our children's future.

Contacts:
Corry Westbrook, National Wildlife Federation – 202-797-6840, cell – 202-841-6371

Heidi Hirsh, Natural Resources Specialist, Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps - 703-695-8240 ext 3339, cell - 571-278-4282