FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 12, 2003
CONTACT: Kathalyn Gaither, DEP, (850) 245-2112
Debbie Keller, The Nature Conservancy,
(850) 222-0199
Lt. Jessica Phelps, Eglin AFB, (850) 882-3931 x488
Governor Bush Unites Environment with Military Mission
--Florida joins forces with Defense
Department to conserve land, strengthen national security--
Tallahassee, Fla. -- Governor Jeb Bush and Florida
Cabinet members signed a landmark agreement today with the
U.S. Department of Defense and The Nature Conservancy firmly
uniting national defense with land conservation and
environmental protection under a new Congressional authority.
"Florida is among the first in the nation to join forces
with the Department of Defense to increase security for
important military installations while at the same time
protecting valuable natural resources," said Governor Bush.
"This groundbreaking partnership affirms Florida's resolute
commitment to the environment and our nation's military."
The historic collaboration represents the most ambitious
use to-date of the Congressional authority provided to the
Department of Defense just last year approving partnerships
with states and non-profit conservation organizations to
preserve habitat and reduce encroachment on military
operations.
The Department of Defense is committing $1 million this
year to the proposed Northwest Florida Greenway. The project
creates 100 miles of open space stretching from the
Apalachicola National Forest and waters of the Gulf of Mexico
to Eglin Air Force Base.
“The world remains a dangerous place and it is our duty as
a Nation to ensure our young men and women in uniform receive
the best training and equipment possible before they are sent
into harm’s way. It is therefore essential that we protect
our ability to use our military test and training ranges from
encroachment,” said Department of Defense Principal Assistant
Deputy Under Secretary for Installations and Environment,
Phil Grone. “On behalf of the Secretary of Defense, I want to
thank Governor Bush and the State of Florida, The Nature
Conservancy and the other many partners that are willing to
help craft a Northwest Florida Greenway Corridor – an effort
that will benefit our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines -
while at the same time preserving some of our country’s most
unique natural areas.”
The Northwest Florida Greenway establishes a 750,000-acre
corridor spanning six counties and following the flight path
of military aircraft on training and testing exercises.
Recognizing a common interest in safeguarding critical lands
and associated air space, the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection, military services, The Nature
Conservancy and Okaloosa County are partnering to establish
the greenway.
Just an hour before signing the agreement with the
Department of Defense, Governor Bush and the Florida Cabinet
approved acquisition of the 7,579-acre Box R Ranch as a
“gateway” to the greenway from the sandy white beaches of the
Gulf Coast.
“Northwest Florida has a long, proud history of supporting
the military installations across the region,” said Brigadier
General Chris Anzalone, Vice Commander Air Armament Center,
Eglin Air Force Base. "As identified in the Joint Gulf Range
Complex Strategic Plan, this greenway will help sustain
military access to Northwest Florida's unique air, land and
water resources for generations to come, while at the same
time preserving Florida's diverse environment . . . clearly a
win-win strategy.”
Northwest Florida is host to five U.S. Air Force and Navy
installations and represents one of the largest open air
military training area in the United States. Strategically
important, the region is also a known biological "hot spot" –
an area teeming with wildlife and native flora -- ideal for
conservation and recreation.
"The Nature Conservancy designated the Panhandle a hot
spot because of the high number of rare species that live
there and the threat development poses," said Victoria J.
Tschinkel, The Nature Conservancy's Florida director. "This
partnership builds and strengthens the Conservancy's decades
of landscape-scale protection work in this region."
Around the state, Florida is acquiring land around
military bases through Florida Forever, the 10-year,
$3 billion land conservation program established by Governor
Bush. The State has invested $640 million to place nearly
one-half million acres in public ownership, protecting
natural resources and benefiting military operations.
View pictures from the event
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