The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership Releases the 2023 Sentinel Landscapes Accomplishments Report
The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership is pleased to announce that the 2023 Sentinel Landscapes Accomplishments Report [https://sentinellandscapes.org/media/1xqlfbap/2023-sentinel-landscapes-accomplishments-report.pdf] 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.
The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron "Thunderbirds" perform at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Dakota Carter)
Through Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, projects across sentinel landscapes have attracted approximately $335 million in USDA funds, $233 million in DOD funds, $92 million in DOI funds, $341 million in state funds, $26 million in local funds, and $142 million in private funds. These contributions have permanently protected 677,100 acres of land through FY 2022 and enrolled over 4.4 million acres of land in financial and technical assistance programs in FY 2022 alone.
The partnership designated three new sentinel landscapes in 2023. The South Carolina Lowcountry Sentinel Landscape encompasses more than 2.2 million acres of longleaf pine forest, working farmlands, saltmarsh, forested wetlands, and unbroken wildlife corridors. This landscape promotes natural resource conservation efforts, enhances water quality, supports local agriculture, builds climate resilience, and ensures long-term military readiness for three installations. The Potomac and Tidewater Sentinel Landscapes, collectively referred to as the Virginia Security Corridor, span over 2.9 million acres of land and water, supporting numerous military installations that represent every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. These landscapes aim to prevent encroachment on military activities, build resilience against climate hazards, and conserve key habitats to benefit water quality and protected species.
A Marine Corps recruit participates in a land navigation course at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. (Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jacqueline Kliewer)
Case studies in the report also detail how the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership engages expert organizations, including the Conservation Finance Network, LegacyWorks Group, and Quantified Ventures, to provide capacity-building support to on-the-ground partners within sentinel landscapes.
The 2023 Accomplishments Report can be found on the Sentinel Landscapes Partnerships website at [https://sentinellandscapes.org/media/1xqlfbap/2023-sentinel-landscapes-accomplishments-report.pdf]. To find more information about the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership, please visit sentinellandscapes.org or subscribe to the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership listserv [https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USGOVREPI/signup/38552] to receive updates, news, and announcements.
This map shows the locations of the 13 sentinel landscapes across the U.S. A full list of partners working within each sentinel landscape can be found in the sentinel landscape profiles on the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership website [https://sentinellandscapes.org/landscapes].
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Authors
As the associate director for Policy at the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, Bruce Beard leads the institute’s Military Land Sustainability Program (MLS). The MLS Program supports test and training activities on U.S…
