The Department of Defense (DoD)’s REPI Program is a key tool for combating encroachment that can limit or restrict military training, testing, and operations. The REPI Program protects these military missions by helping remove or avoid land-use conflicts near installations and addressing regulatory restrictions that inhibit military activities. The REPI Program is administered by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). Read more...
A recording is available of the last REPI Webinar on REPI and Veterans, which took place on Wednesday, November 7, 2018.
We will announce the 2019 REPI Webinar Series in the coming weeks. Please stay tuned!
For information about REPI activities, DoD economic impact, and partnerships in states with REPI projects, download REPI's state fact sheets, available under the Resources tab.
REPI Program Director, Kristin Thomasgard-Spence (left), accepts the 2018 Champion of the Chesapeake Award
On November 1, 2018 the REPI Program received the 2018 Champion of the Chesapeake award from the Chesapeake Conservancy. The REPI Program was honored for its creative approach to conserve habitat and biodiversity across a 385,000-mile corridor in the Chesapeake.
The REPI Program's innovative partnership with the Chesapeake Conservancy demonstrates a model for successful landscape-scale conservation, with the goal of linking protected lands and creating a contiguous corridor of 18,300 acres by the end of 2018. This corridor will sustain military readiness, create recreational opportunities for nearby communities, and preserve the natural and cultural significance of the landscape.
On October 20th, representatives from Camp Ripley, Minnesota Power, and the Rajala Woods Foundation gathered to celebrate the dedication of the first Yellow Ribbon Forest. The 70-acre parcel of land in Northern Minnesota was recently planted with red and white pines and donated by Minnesota Power in recognition of the nation's service members. The Yellow Ribbon Forest is open to the public and will provide the surrounding communities with the opportunity to enjoy nature and reflect on the service and sacrifice of veterans.
The REPI Story Map is a new tool intended to provide a REPI 101 briefing to audiences unfamiliar with the Program. The Story Map outlines the history, maturation, and growth of the REPI Program and its suite of tools, and contextualizes where the activities have occurred through tandem use of the REPI Interactive Map.
The REPI Story Map, shown below, is available through the REPI Story Map section of the website or at REPImap.org/storymap.
The REPI Interactive Map is now available. It can be found under the Resources section of the website, or by going to REPImap.org.
Curious to know what it looks like? You can see a screenshot below of all 80 installations with REPI buffer partnerships across the U.S. Using the tool, you will also be able to change the mapping parameters to view all DoD (REPI and non-REPI) installations, installations by Service, and state policy options for supporting military installations and ranges. For more information, access the REPI Interactive Map page under the Resources section of the website.
522 in Charles County Slated for New Wildlife Management Area. Southern Maryland Online (Annapolis, MD) reports that on February 21, the Board of Public Works unanimously approved a Maryland Department of Natural Resources acquisition of 522 acres in Charles County for the development of a new Wildlife Management Area. The acquisition was leveraged with funds from the DoD’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program (REPI) and will protect ecologically-sensitive habitat such as wetlands and woodlands, while providing an excellent location for recreational activities.
How the Military Helps Protect Natural Landscapes. The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) Blog reports that following its designation as a Sentinel Landscape, Fort Huachuca and its surrounding communities have evolved into an area that supports natural resource sustainability and protects military and testing activities. One issue area that the Sentinel Landscape has focused its attention on is water; Fort Huachuca and its surrounding communities have faced a historical battle with water scarcity. Located in the Arizona dessert, water scarcity has been an ongoing concern for the Fort, with operations requiring groundwater resources to support its infrastructure and employee population. The USDA Forest Service Cooperative Forestry Program helps mitigate this challenge by providing technical assistance and support for wetlands restoration and protected species. With the help of the USDA, and through the framework of the Sentinel Landscape Partnership, the Fort has reduced its groundwater usage by nearly two-thirds. Furthermore, the Sentinel Landscape has taken strides to support working ranches and restore critical habitats surrounding the military installation.