Compatible Use Buffer Program

COOPERATIVE CONSERVATION CASE STUDY

Resolving Encroachment Issues Using Natural Resource Buffers

Location: Southeastern

Project Summary: Florida agencies and groups worked with Camp Blanding to create buffer zones to stem Base encroachment and provide open space for conservation.

A group receives tour of Blanding’s natural resources. (Photo by Jaclyn Wickert)

Resource Challenge

Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, primary training facility of the Florida Army National Guard (FLARNG), is located about halfway between the fast-growing communities of Jacksonville and Gainesville. Once in a remote location, urbanization and other outside inﬂuences have brought increasing encroachment pressure, requiring new approaches to balancing community growth and the integrity of military training operations.

Recognizing that the effectiveness of the Florida Army National Guard’s 73,000-acre training center depends, in part, on how well it addresses encroachment and range sustainability issues, Camp Blanding’s Post Commander, his conservation staff, and the Florida National Guard pursued a partnership with state and local governments and non-government organizations to establish natural resource buffers surrounding the installation. The goal was to achieve military objectives while helping the State and other organizations achieve their own natural resource conservation and land management objectives.

Examples of Key Partners

Federal Agencies: Florida Army National Guard (FLARNG), Camp Blanding Environmental Division, U.S. Army Environmental Center, National Guard Bureau; State Agencies: Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), Ofﬁce of Greenways and Trails Acquisition and Restoration Council, Suwannee River Water Mgmt. District, Bradford and Clay Counties, Cities of Middleburg, Orange Park, and Penny Farms; St Johns River Water Mgmt. District, Florida Defense Alliance; The Nature Conservancy; landowners and developers.

Results and Accomplishments

State of Florida participants conceived of the buffer idea, since it would help the State conserve open space as well as help the military post with its encroachment problems. Nonfederal participants planned the program, identiﬁed willing sellers, negotiated purchases, and closed deals, contributing $12,500,000 to date. Camp Blanding participated in the process and requested $500,000 through the National Guard Bureau.

The buffers program at Camp Blanding was the ﬁrst to be implemented under the Army’s Compatible Use Buffer Program to ensure sustainability of the military training mission into the foreseeable future. In addition to the advantages buffers provide to military training, the project contributed to the Florida Forever conservation initiative. Camp Blanding and the surrounding newlyprotected lands will now be part of approximately 110 miles of greenway extending from Osceola National Forest to the Ocala National Forest. The new buffer zone should beneﬁt all 60 rare and endangered species in the region.

Innovation/Highlight

The ﬁrst buffers program implemented under the Army’s Compatible Use Buffer Program.

Project Contact

Mollie Glover Palmer
Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Secretary
Florida Department of Environmental Protection

,
850-245-2011
mollie.palmer@dep.state.fl.us

Paul Catlett
Forest Area Supervisor
Camp Blanding

904-682-3453
paul.catlett@fl.ngb.army.mil

Website: http://aec.army.mil/usaec/natural/natural03a.html

To request additions or corrections to this case study email the Administrator

Current Conservation Programs