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Threatened and Endangered Species Forecast
Alison Lund Drew Finn
While land compatibility remains one of the most complex natural resource challenges for military installations, another equally critical aspect of land use is wildlife. The federal government owns 640 million acres of land in the U.S., including 25 million acres of biologically diverse landscapes that fall under the jurisdiction and management of the Department of Defense (DoD).
The importance of these DoD lands to sustainable wildlife populations and their unique habitats is well established, especially for species of conservation concern. A 2014 assessment report concluded that 458 federally listed threatened and endangered species and 555 at-risk species occur across military defense sites, and more than 40 of these species are found exclusively on DoD land. A multitude of federal, state, and local laws and regulations provide the legal framework for conservation and management of the natural resources on federal lands.
To assist installation natural resource managers in planning efforts related to monitoring and management of threatened and endangered species on installations, NRI developed the Threatened and Endangered Species Forecast Guidebook. This guidebook identifies species most likely to be listed as threatened or endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in the near future, and that may occur on military installations in Texas. Through use of species summaries, managers gain the necessary background to begin proactive planning efforts that are critical in light of funding constraints.
