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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