Building Foundations for DoD Partnerships in Region 2: Realizing the Value and Dexterity of USFWS / Military Partnerships Allison Arnold Sikes Act Coordinator Southwest Region
Southwest Region Building Year – full time, all military branches (DoD-wide) New partnerships, building trust Renewed commitment to: a cross-programmatic approach (Ecological Services, Migratory Birds, Refuges, Fisheries) tri-lateral inclusion (DoD, USFWS, States) Resolving issues (examples) - proactive approaches ESA – cited as a major DoD focus / concern potential listing currently listed species potential de-listing situations On-the-ground conflict resolution (Valle De Oro NWR / Kirtland AFB) INRMPs – improving compliance and conservation delivery through partnership and communication; aligning agency mission goals and objectives Maximize training and operational flexibility while maximizing conservation delivery
Force multiplier The road ahead in the Southwest Region Dexterity “we are stronger together than as individuals” Leveraging Resources – partner existing agency programs to accomplish multi- faceted and more effective outcomes (e.g. ACUB, REPI, PFW, USDA, etc.) Pooling resources – tools of the trade, expertise Mutual goal: Maximize conservation delivery while supporting the military mission The road ahead in the Southwest Region We want to be – engaged, facilitative, supportive, and reliable partners
Contact Information Allison Arnold USFWS Regional Sikes Act Coordinator Southwest Region (512) 203-5145 allison_arnold@fws.gov