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Sentinel Landscapes in the Southeast
About
Increased population growth and development, inadequate planning, climate change impacts, and other incompatible land uses threaten the ability of military installations to carry out their mission. In response to these growing challenges, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA), Defense (DoD), and the Interior (DOI) established the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership to strengthen military readiness, conserve natural resources, bolster agricultural and forestry economies, and increase climate change resilience.
The SERPPAS Sentinel Landscapes in the Southeast Work Group connects currently designated landscapes to address shared challenges, share lessons learned, and promote the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership’s mission in the Southeast. The Work Group disseminates information to developing partnerships and serves as a regional coordinating body between currently designated and future Sentinel Landscapes partnerships.
Sentinel Landscapes benefit the military mission and the other partner missions by promoting compatible land use near military installations; strengthening the economies of forests and farms surrounding military bases; improving coordination between the military services, local governments, and state and federal agencies; and encouraging state interest and prioritization of resources supporting military installations and surrounding communities.
Strategic Objectives
- Continue to refine a shareable composite mission footprint map of the Southeast to better understand the DoD priority areas across the region, utilizing existing and promoting continued local planning efforts to identify where new Sentinel Landscapes Partnerships would be most valuable.
- Focus on promoting private landowner interests and explore innovative ways to increase the number and type of compatible land use tools to offer landowners to conserve working lands and promote resilience where appropriate.
- Leverage the ‘Power of SERPPAS’ to attract both financial and non-financial support to increase awareness and capacity for the implementation of Sentinel Landscapes designated in the Region.
- Assess and integrate other SERPPAS focus area objectives into implementation strategies for Sentinel Landscapes in the region, to create more conservation opportunities that support working lands, natural resources and military missions.
- Assist Sentinel Landscapes in the Southeast assess their climate exposures and vulnerabilities and integrate resilience planning and adaptation into their landscape implementation plans.
- Use the SERPPAS network to share information, resources and lessons learned of the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership, as well as demonstrate the value and purpose of these partnerships.
Work Group Lead
Bruce Beard
Associate Director of PolicyTexas A&M Natural Resources Institute
bruce.beard@ag.tamu.edu
Bruce Beard is the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute’s Associate Director for Policy and leads NRI’s Military Land Sustainability Program. Bruce brings more than 30 years of federal land management and natural resource policy experience to NRI and is a nationally recognized advocate for Sentinel Landscapes.
Bruce served within the Executive Office of the President at the Office of Management and Budget in three Administrations, where he was a principal advisor on federal land management and natural resource policy issues. He was the OMB Branch Chief for the Interior Branch responsible for coordination of budget, legislation and regulatory issues affecting the Department of the Interior. At the Department of Defense, he was instrumental in establishing the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program, which he directed, and helped to initiate the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership between the Departments of Agriculture, Defense and the Interior.
Bruce earned his Bachelor of Science in wildlife and fisheries from Texas A&M University, and a Master of Public Affairs in environmental policy from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He received the 2011 Outstanding Alumni Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M and the 2012 Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service at the Department of Defense.
Request to Join Work Group
Resources
Documents
The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership Releases the 2023 Sentinel Landscapes Accomplishments Report
2/27/24
The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership is pleased to announce that the 2023 Sentinel Landscapes Accomplishments Report is now available. The report showcases how the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Defense (DOD), Department of the Interior (DOI), and their on-the-ground partners collaborate through the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership to solve complex land-use challenges, combining resources and aligning funding across the 13 sentinel landscapes.
Visit the SERPPAS News ArchiveNational Coastal Resilience Fund 2024 Request for Proposals Released
2/27/24
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is pleased to announce the 2024 National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF) Request for Proposals (RFP). NFWF will make investments in planning, design, and implementation of natural and nature-based solutions. The goal is to enhance protection for coastal communities from the impacts of storms, floods, and other natural coastal hazards and to improve habitats for fish and wildlife.
Visit the SERPPAS News ArchiveAmerica’s Ecosystem Restoration Initiative: America the Beautiful Challenge 2024 Request for Proposals
2/27/24
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), through anticipated cooperative agreements from the Department of the Interior (DOI), Department of Defense (DOD), and the Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is releasing the America the Beautiful Challenge (ATBC) 2024 Request for Proposals (RFP). The ATBC vision is to streamline grant funding opportunities for new voluntary conservation and restoration projects throughout the United States. This RFP consolidates funding from multiple federal agencies and the private sector to enable applicants to conceive and develop large-scale, locally led projects that address shared funder priorities spanning public, Tribal, and private lands.
Visit the SERPPAS News ArchiveDOD Awards REPI Challenge Funding at 22 Installations
2/15/24
The DOD Readiness and Environment Protection Integration Program has awarded REPI Challenge funds for 17 projects, benefitting 22 installations and many nearby communities, according to a recent announcement. DOD contributed $23 million to the projects, with more than $36 million in additional funding from REPI partners.
Visit the SERPPAS News ArchiveKeystone Initiative Centers on Salt Marsh Conservation
1/22/24
Recognizing the enormous value of salt marshes, the Department of the Interior and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with funding support from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, launched the Salt Marsh Keystone Initiative in January 2024. Partnering with others, we are leveraging resources and expertise to help make informed, efficient use of funds to restore this valuable habitat, creating a more resilient coastline to address climate change.
Visit the SERPPAS News ArchiveNFWF and NOAA Announce $144 Million in Grants to Support Coastal Resilience Projects
11/29/23
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and NOAA announced $144 million in new grants to support natural infrastructure projects in 31 coastal states and U.S. territories. These grants will support design and implementation of projects to enhance the resilience of coastal communities and improve habitat for fish and wildlife across the U.S. The 109 grants announced today will generate more than $97 million in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of $242 million.
Visit the SERPPAS News ArchiveEvents & Webinars
- 2024 National Military Fish and Wildlife Association Annual Meeting
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March 25 - 29, 2024
Grand Rapids, MI - 5th NCA Regional Event: Southeast
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April 3, 2024
Raleigh, NC - 2024 REPI Report to Congress
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April 17, 2024
Webinar (hosted by REPI) - Georgia Forests & Water Forum
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April 30 - May 1, 2024
Forsyth, GA - 2024 Designation Cycle Sentinel Landscapes Spotlight
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July 24, 2024
Webinar (hosted by REPI) - AICUZ and REPI Partnerships for Enhanced Land Protection
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October 9, 2024
Webinar (hosted by REPI) - Navigating Military Readiness Through Responsible Project Execution
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December 11, 2024
Webinar (hosted by REPI)
SERPPAS Meetings
May 2024
- 2024 SERPPAS Principals Meeting
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May 8 - 9, 2024
Gulfport, MS