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Department of Defense Range Tours A Look at How Military Training Operations Impact Natural Resources and Endangered Species Range Tours allow the military and environmental communities to explore ideas for balancing the protection of wildlife and native plant habitat with the training demands of our nation's military. The Sierra Club, along with representatives from eight national and seven local conservation organizations, joined Department of Defense personnel for a four-day Range Tour of three Hawaiian military facilities. Started several years ago, the tours are designed to facilitate dialogue between military services and environmental advocacy organizations. Range Tour attendees at the Marine base's Waterfront Ops. The group is returning from an orientation of the Kane'ohe Bay ecosystem and a visit to the mammal stranding facility. Sierra Club's Maribeth Oakes is third from the left on the front row. Day 1, U.S. Marine Corps: O'ahu Island: U.S. Marine Corps Base These 26-ton amphibious assault vehicles look like they might devastate the marine base's Nu'upia pond wetlands, but in actuality they kill invasive pickle weed plants and create a terrain enjoyed by the endangered Hawaiian stilts, who feed on the insects, worms, and crustacean uncovered by the AAVs. Day 2, U.S. Army: O'ahu's Waimea Valley: The Community and the Army Working to Protect the North Shore A consortium of public and private groups raised $14 million to buy Waimea Valley and keep it undeveloped. The U.S. Army's contribution of $3.5 million helped secure the deal and prevent the construction of a planned housing development that would have marred the scenic natural areas and closed the lands to public access. Day 3, U.S. Navy: Kauai: The U.S. Navy Pacific Missile Range Facility On the western shores of the Island of Kauai sits the Pacific Missile Range Facility, known as Barking Sands. It is open to public use, for such activities as swimming, surfing and sunning, on weekday nights and 24 hours on weekends and holidays, except during special operations. Those spearheading the Range Tour concept recognized that previously the military and environmental communities often failed to communicate effectively because a common knowledge base and understanding did not exist. Range Tours allow the two communities to see the same ground through the lens of the other, engage in dialogue at the facility, and explore new visions for protecting wildlife and native plant habitat while balancing the training demands of our nation's military. The Range Tours facilitate a forum for talking to each other and working towards mutual goals. This Range Tour began on the Island of O'ahu at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii, which sits on the Mokapu Peninsula and between the Kane'ohe and Kailua Bays. After a briefing by Corps personnel, tour participants were taken to locations on base to view the military's native plant landscaping, wetland creation, and watershed repair and wildlife habitat protection efforts. The next expedition was to the interior of O'ahu, to Schofield Army Base. First stop at Schofield was the Army's greenhouse, where staff from the Army's Natural Resources Program discussed how native plant species are cultivated for planting on the range and in the community. After learning about engagement skill training operations, the group went to the North Shore to see firsthand the land protected through the Army Compatible Use Buffer Program. The Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility, located on the Island of Kauai's western side, rounded out the tour with discussions about the Shearwater Colony restoration activities, and the recovery efforts of the shoreline and habitat at the Nohili dunes. Day 1, O'ahu Island: U.S. Marine Corps Base Day 2, O'ahu's Waimea Valley: The Community and the Army Working to Protect the North Shore Day 3, Kauai: The Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility Photos: Maribeth Oakes/Sierra Club Collection; all rights reserved. Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | © 2008 Sierra Club