Conservation Corner: June 19, 2000

Wildlife Research On Mississippi's Military Lands
by James L. Cummins

The balancing act of training national defense while protecting wildlife at military bases has been a concern of the Department of Defense (DoD) for more than 12 years. Federal acts, such as the Endangered Species and Clean Water acts, and DoD policy call for the integration of training with conservation.

Dr. Jeanne Jones, a professor in Mississippi State University's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, has been assisting the DoD in improving conservation. The challenge has been to effectively train for national defense while managing forest resources, conserving fish, wildlife, soil and water resources and protecting threatened and endangered species.

With 136,000 acres for Mississippi Army National Guard training in artillery and weapons fire, tank maneuvers and platoon training, Camp Shelby was one of the first military bases in Mississippi to address conservation. A primary concern was erosion control and improving wildlife habitat on tank maneuver and artillery shelling sites. Seed mixtures of white and crimson clover, hairy vetch and ryegrass exhibited greater than 80 percent plant cover and provided habitat for rabbits, white-tailed deer and wild turkey. The integration of conservation by Camp Shelby is improving the 77 state or federally protected plants and animals that call Camp Shelby "home."

Camp McCain, a training site for the Mississippi Army National Guard, covers 13,000 acres. Training at the facility includes tank maneuvers, artillery training and general training for National Guard troops. One of the main concerns at the military base was erosion control on tank and artillery training sites and roadside erosion. Erosion control practices, such as seeding and fertilization, on roadsides and training sites has worked to increase plant cover and enhance wildlife food and habitat. Through the work of scientists and military personnel, 26 protected state and federally listed plants and animals, game species and more than 100 species of nongame birds have more suitable habitat.

A training site for Navy candidate jet aviators, the Naval Air Station (NAS) encompasses 9,970 acres. NAS began conservation efforts in 1997 to address concerns such as wildlife air strike hazards on runways, restoration of longleaf pine forests and wetland protection for the diverse amphibian, reptile and bird inhabitants. The Navy is improving the conservation of biological diversity, management of fish and wildlife and associated recreation and forest management.

Future endeavors with military bases will continue as scientists seek a balance between conservation and training operations. Management will promote wildlife, good conservation and demonstrate effective use of natural resources by the DoD.

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi.