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General Lehnert
Photo by General Lehnert collection

by Marilyn Berlin Snell
Visionary Solutions Session
David Foreman, Brigadier General Mike Lehnert, US Marine Corp

Dave Foreman—famous one-time Earth First!er and now head of the Rewilding Institute—shared the stage today with a Marine Corps general in a buttoned-up green uniform. It seemed like the set-up for a wrestling match rather than a dialogue, but instead of a fist fight it was a lovefest. Very strange…and inspiring.

Brigadier General Mike Lehnert is responsible for the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base in Southern California, which possesses one of the largest tracts of open space on the California coastline between San Diego and Los Angeles—preparing marines so they are ready for action around the world.

Lehnert listened politely as Foreman railed against the fact that we are smack in the middle of the greatest extinction of species in 65 million years and that one of our most pressing tasks is to secure wilderness and create interconnected protected areas to help maintain healthy ecosystems for large carnivores. "We can't apologize for being nature lovers," said Foreman. "We must have a vision that is bold, scientifically credible, and hopeful—a vision in which people and wilderness can coexist and thrive together."

General Lehnert didn't howl like a wolf in applause, like others in the audience did, but one of the first things he said was that he thoroughly agreed with Foreman. "If you came here looking for a fight, I'm sorry to disappoint. My job is to apply some of [Foreman's] ideas to what I do."

For the last five years, Lehnert has been working to improve the environmental stewardship of Marine bases. His task is exemplified at Camp Pendelton. In 1970, there were 4 endangered species on the base, but because of the pressures of urbanization all around, by the 1990s there were 18. "In many cases, it's their last refuge before extinction," he said; it's his job to protect them.

There wasn't time for Lehnert to flesh out his argument about why he opposes critical habitat designation for military bases, but he did say that if such a designation were given to Camp Pendelton, the military might well have to move out—leaving the area ripe for exploitation of other kinds. The good news is that there is plenty of time for continued conversation. He invited anyone who wanted to visit the camp and see for themselves what the Marines are up to, environmentally speaking.

-- 09/11/2005 Sun
12noon