home to Eglin AFB and other major DOD installations,
was enacted in 1960 “to promote effectual planning,
development, maintenance, and coordination of wild-
life, fish, and game conservation and rehabilitation in
military reservations.” Over the last several decades
the Act has been significantly strengthened, and its
scope expanded, to the point that it now represents a
comprehensive law mandating the conservation of all
aspects of natural resources on military lands (Benton,
et al., 2008).
The amendments provided in the Sikes Act Im-
provement Act of 1997 significantly strengthened
DOD natural resources programs by mandating
the development and implementation of Integrated
Natural Resources Management Plans (INRMP) for
all installations with natural resources. INRMPs are
required to be prepared in cooperation with the ap-
propriate state fish and game agency and the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, and are subject to public review
and comment. Additionally, the services must fund
and implement their INRMPs, review them annually,
and update them as necessary at least every five years
(Benton, et al., 2008).
In addition to their primary use for military activi-
ties, military lands provide other uses including: 1)
forestry management, 2) hunting, fishing and outdoor
recreational activities, and 3) agriculture and grazing.
In some rare instances, mining and mineral extraction
activities may also occur. While multiple-purpose uses
on these federal lands are not directly related to the
military mission, they may complement the overall
natural resources management approach. These mul-
tiple uses may also generate revenue for the military
installation. Many of these multiple purposes provide
opportunities for military personnel and their families
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