Fort Benning restores longleaf pine habitat

Partnering with a diverse group of stakeholders including The Nature Conservancy and the Chattahoochee Valley Land Trust, Fort Benning, Georgia is restoring thousands of acres of longleaf pine forest on areas near the post. Through REPI, Fort Benning has preserved over 8,600 acres of land. The longleaf pine forest is home to key endangered species, the red-cockaded woodpecker and the gopher tortoise, while the project also preserves Fort Benning's ability to train inside the fenceline. Click here to read more.

Camp Lejeune preserves the McLean Savanna Preserve

At Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, officials have preserved the McLean Savanna Preserve in Pender County. With the help from The Nature Conservancy and funding from the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund, this REPI project preserves mature longleaf pine forest that serves as habitat for the red-cockaded woodpecker, and rare plants like the Cooley meadowrue and golden sedge. Click here for more information.

U.S. Army Garrison - Hawaii will preserve land near Schofield Barracks

At U.S. Army Garrison - Hawaii, several community and environmental groups, state and federal agencies, and The Trust for Public Land have worked together to preserve land near the Schofield Barracks and Kahuku Training Area. Once slated for development for 31,000 homes and golf course, the preserved land will provide valuable open space and habitat for endangered species. The REPI project has preserved 10,302 acres. Other related-conservation efforts will also allow lands to be used for agriculture uses. Please click here to read more about related conservation efforts near U.S. Army Garrison - Hawaii. (A subscription to the Wall Street Journal may be required.)

Habitat for the streaked horned lark is preserved at Joint Base Lewis-McChord

The streaked horned lark is proposed for listing as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, but efforts at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington have made strides towards preserving habitat for the lark. In total, Joint Base Lewis-McChord provides 12,000 acres of habitat, some of which protected through REPI, for the lark and other endangered and threatened species, such as the checkspot butterfly and Mazama pocket gopher. Click here to read more about the streaked horned lark from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and here to read more about the efforts to protect the streaked horned lark on the base.

Fort Drum completes new easement with 567 acre family farm

Officials at Fort Drum, New York have partnered with the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust and Ducks Unlimited to preserve 567 acres of a family-owned dairy farm. The farm will remain privately-owned and operated by the Platt family, and preserved for agricultural and forestry uses in the future. This new easement will protect Fort Drum's training capacities, which includes live-fire, maneuver, and night flying training. Click here to read more about the efforts at Fort Drum.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord protects habitat to ensure training capabilities

As stewards and caretakers of the environment, officials at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington maintain the on-base training capabilities through off-base natural resource management. Wildlife management teams work with installation officials, as well as partners like the Washington Department of Natural Resources, to actively manage endangered species habitat, which ultimately decrease workarounds and restrictions on-base. REPI efforts at the base include restoring the southern Puget lowland prairies, which is home to many imperiled species. To read more about Joint Base Lewis-McChord's natural resource efforts, click here.

Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort begins a new Transfer of Development Rights Program

Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort and its local government partners are set to launch a Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program to support the air station's REPI efforts. The new TDR program prevents further developments around the air station and allows landowners to sell the development rights to builders, who may increase building density for projects in other designated areas where the development will not impact the air station. The TDR program has already been honored by the South Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association and is touted as the first of its kind in state. Click here to read more about this program.

Local officials sign encroachment agreement for Robins Air Force Base

Local officials from Georgia's Bibb, Houston, and Peach counties are working together to prevent encroachment at Robins Air Force Base (AFB). Through a mix of REPI, state, and county funding, local officials have agreed to purchase 250 parcels north of the base that are considered at risk for crashes and high noise levels. The agreement received praise from Georgia State Senator Ross Tolleson as a good example of cooperation and team work among different government agencies. Read more about the efforts at Robins AFB here.

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton closes on new easement to protect habitat

Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Pendleton, partnering with Fallbrook Land Conservancy and other organizations in California, has secured a new conservation easement under REPI. REPI has already preserved more than 1,200 acres at MCB Camp Pendleton, with additional 2,000 acres preserved through the hard work of seven other partners. The preserved land will provide habitat for several threatened and endangered species, while allowing MCB Camp Pendleton to train with fewer restrictions. Read more about this Marine Corps project from the Marine Corps or the Association of Defense Communities.

Fort Stewart preserves 5,400 acres for timber production

The winners of the first ever "REPI Challenge," Fort Stewart and the Georgia Land Trust worked together to preserve 5,400 acres of land outside the fort's eastern boundary. The permanent natural buffer land will assist with maintaining habitat for the red-cockaded woodpecker while Rayonier Forest Resources will continue to use the land for timber production under a lease agreement with the Georgia Land Trust. Click here to read the news story about this REPI project.

Atlantic Test Range REPI Project Featured in Currents Magazine

The Summer 2012 issue of Currents, the Navy’s energy and environmental magazine, features the REPI project at the Atlantic Test Range in Maryland. This REPI project includes a partnership among the Department of Defense, The Nature Conservancy, The Conservation Fund, and other stakeholders. REPI funds have supported the purchase of conservation easements for over 670 acres in the Nanticoke River watershed. The easements also allow the Atlantic Test Range to continue its mission in research, development, test, and evaluation of Naval aircraft. Click here to read the full article.

Camp Shelby preserves 352 acres of timberland

In a project among Camp Shelby, Mississippi State University (MSU) and the MSU Foundation, and the Mississippi Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, a 352-acre tract of timberland acquired through REPI was recently added to Mississippi State University's Bulldog Forest program. The Nature Conservancy holds a working conservation easement on the property, which is adjacent to Camp Shelby, while the MSU Foundation holds title to the property and will receive revenue from timber production and harvest. Click here to read more about this Army project.

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst acquires new easements

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, partnering with Ocean County, New Jersey, recently acquired restrictive easements to prevent incompatible uses on about 1,800 acres in the departure zones of two runways located in Jackson Township for about $7.5 million in REPI and partner funds. About 400 acres will be transferred to the County in fee to remain open space, while the other 1,400 acres will be retained by the private landowner for continued compatible industrial activities. Read more about the efforts to protect the Navy, Air Force, and Army missions at the base here.