Geospatial Technology for Sustainable Management of Military Ecosystems

Introduction

The U.S. Military is one of America's most surprising conservation leaders. As Environmental GIS Manager for the SC Army National Guard, I manage over 20,000 acres of land within a UNESCO biosphere, just miles from Congaree National Park in South Carolina's Cowasee Basin. This unique ecosystem ranks among the most biodiverse areas in the United States, and geospatial technology helps us balance military readiness with environmental stewardship.

The Power of Location Data in Conservation

Using geospatial technology, I help military facilities managers and wildlife biologists make data-driven decisions about precious ecosystems. This involves managing spatial datasets using federal DoD standards and applying location intelligence to inform biological management decisions.

The most exciting program I support is REPI (Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration) - a national collaborative initiative promoting compatible land use, protecting military readiness, and conserving natural resources through partnerships between the DOD, government agencies, and private organizations.

Balancing Military Needs with Conservation Goals

REPI presents a unique challenge: the DoD cannot spend money protecting land without military interest, while conservation groups won't support land protection without biodiversity importance. I use geospatial analysis to bridge this gap through multi-criteria site selection models that weigh various factors to prioritize parcels for conservation easement acquisition.

This approach has helped justify over $10 million in Department of Defense resources for local conservation efforts. The SC National Guard partners with the Army and Air Force to purchase conservation easements that benefit military readiness, environmental protection, and local communities.

Protecting the Cowasee Basin

The Cowasee Basin sits strategically between Columbia and Sumter, South Carolina. Rapid urban growth threatens to fragment this intact ecosystem core through development sprawl. Our conservation partnership works to ensure the basin remains protected while supporting military training needs.

Why Military Conservation Matters

The REPI program addresses several critical challenges:

• Encroachment Mitigation: Urban development increasingly limits military training opportunities and compromises operational readiness. REPI creates protective buffer zones around installations while preserving training capabilities.

• Natural Resource Conservation: The military recognizes its stewardship responsibility, focusing on ecologically significant lands, including wetlands, forests, and critical habitats that maintain biodiversity and support wildlife populations.

• Enhanced Military-Community Relations: REPI fosters collaboration between military installations and surrounding communities, building positive relationships through shared environmental and security interests.

• Operational Readiness: Maintaining adequate land for training and testing is essential for military readiness. Buffer zones reduce conflicts with surrounding communities while ensuring safe, effective training.

• Cost Efficiency: Partnerships with conservation organizations achieve land acquisition at reduced costs, avoiding expensive litigation while enabling efficient resource allocation toward core military missions.

Climate Change and National Security

Good land stewardship represents a core conservative value - preserving natural resources for future generations. As climate change impacts security and defense, responsible environmental practices become vital for ensuring stability and prosperity.

Extreme weather events highlight the importance of protecting critical infrastructure and resources. Rising sea levels threaten coastal military installations, while changing precipitation patterns affect water supplies and agricultural productivity. These challenges require adaptive strategies that incorporate climate considerations into military planning and operations.

The documentary "Age of Consequences" (2016) explores these security implications in depth, demonstrating how environmental degradation can drive conflict and instability worldwide.

Addressing the Biodiversity Crisis

We face the sixth mass extinction, with current species extinction rates thousands of times higher than natural background rates. This biodiversity loss threatens ecosystem stability, food security, and human well-being. Habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, overexploitation, and invasive species drive this alarming decline.

Military lands often serve as inadvertent refuges for endangered species and critical habitats. Through programs like REPI, we can transform this accidental conservation into intentional stewardship that serves both military and environmental objectives.

Technology-Driven Solutions

The REPI interactive web map exemplifies how geospatial technology facilitates data-driven natural resource management. This platform provides comprehensive data layers enabling better decision-making by military planners, conservation biologists, and community stakeholders.

By applying location intelligence to ecology management, we create solutions that balance competing interests while directing millions of dollars toward community resilience and adaptation strategies.

Moving Forward Together

The Cowasee Basin demonstrates how geospatial technology and collaboration can balance military needs with conservation efforts while building community resilience. Rather than viewing military operations and environmental protection as competing interests, we must recognize their interconnection.

Addressing biodiversity loss and climate change requires unity, not division. Through responsible resource management, innovative partnerships, and data-driven decision-making, we can secure a sustainable future that protects both national security and environmental heritage.

The stakes are too high for partisan politics or ideological purity. Our planet's biological heritage and our nation's security depend on pragmatic solutions that bring together diverse stakeholders around shared goals. Together, we can create a legacy of environmental stewardship that serves both current military needs and future generations.