Military lands are comprised of over 25 million acres that are largely protected from development and that represent diverse habitat types and contain a wealth of plant and animal life. They preserve ecologically important native habitats such as old-growth forests, tall-grass prairies, and vernal pool wetlands. In many cases, these lands are havens for rare and unique plant and animal species.

The Sikes Act recognizes the importance and value of military lands to natural resources. It seeks to ensure that these ecosystems are protected and enhanced while allowing the military lands to continue to meet the needs of military operations.

Accordingly, the Sikes Act requires the Department of Defense (DoD) to develop and implement Integrated Natural Resources Management Plans (INRMPs) for military installations across the United States. The law was originally enacted in 1960, with many important amendments enacted since that time. INRMPs are prepared cooperation with the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and State fish and wildlife agencies to ensure proper consideration of fish, wildlife, and habitat needs. INRMPs are required at almost 380 military installations across the Nation, and direct the management and use of the lands on these installations.

Amendments to the Sikes Act required all INRMPs to be completed by November of 2001. These plans are reviewed every year by military installations, and modified as needed. The military established Guidance for the Implementation of the Sikes Act Improvement Act and Additional Guidance Concerning INRMP Reviews. INRMPs reviews are coordinated at least every 5 years with the Service and States. The Service developed its own Guidance for Coordination on Department of Defense Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans. This guidance provides direction to Service staff for the development, implementation and subsequent reviews of INRMPs required by the Sikes Act. In addition, public input is requested during an open comment period.

The Service is required to submit an Annual Sikes Act Report (FY 01, FY 02, FY 03,
FY 04, and FY05) to congress on the amounts expended by the Department of the Interior and the State fish and wildlife agencies on conservation activities conducted pursuant to INRMPs.

The Sikes Act and the INRMPs it requires integrate many different aspects of natural resource management. Through the Sikes Act, the Service helps military installations manage their natural resources by providing expertise on the following issues:

endangered species, http://endangered.fws.gov/DOD/index.html;
fisheries, http://fisheries.fws.gov/FWSMA/mamain.htm;
invasive species, http://www.fws.gov/contaminants/Issues/InvasiveSpecies.cfm,
migratory birds, http://www.fws.gov/birds/;
law enforcement, http://www.le.fws.gov/;
wetlands, http://wetlands.fws.gov/index.html; and
environmental contaminants, http://www.fws.gov/contaminants

The Service has designated Regional FWS Sikes Act Coordinators in order to help meet the needs for coordinating regular INRMP reviews with the military, the State fish and wildlife agencies and Service programs.

The Service values our partnership with the DoD, and the importance of military lands to maintaining species survival and diversity. In 2004, in appreciation for the hard work the military has done for conservation, the Service created a new award called the “Military Installation Conservation Partnership Award." This annual, non-monetary award recognizes the contributions of a military installation that has worked in partnership with the Service resulting significant conservation accomplishments. The award is designed to underscore the Secretary’s 4 C’s philosophy of communication, consultation, and cooperation – all in the service of conservation.

For further information regarding the Sikes Act and DoD Environmental Programs go to the Defense Environmental Network and Information eXchange, https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/denix.html

INRMP Fact Sheet