The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced Camp Pendleton has been granted the 18th Annual Military Conservation Partner Award.
The award was granted in recognition of Camp Pendleton's Environmental Security Department's collaboration partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the state of California and a number of other public and private organizations to revitalize and maintain ecosystems for 19 federally protected species, according to an Oct. 18 news release.
“Camp Pendleton is a conservation leader and shining example of what can be accomplished for species recovery on military land," Paul Souza, regional director of the FWS Pacific Southwest region, said in the release. "We are grateful for their dedication and stewardship and look forward to a continued partnership.”
Camp Pendleton's conservation operations include aiding the restoration of the tidewater goby, coastal California gnatcatcher and several other fish and bird species, in addition to the only surviving coastal populations of the arroyo toad, according to the release.
“Here at Marine Corps Installations-West, our mission is to support, sustain and train the deploying warfighter,” Brigadier General Jason Woodworth, commanding general, Marine Corps Installations West-Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton said in the release. “We do that every day while remaining good stewards of our environment and our natural resources, thanks to the support and coordination from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and our Environmental Security experts.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program first established the Military Conservation Partner of the Year award in 2004 "to recognize military installations for their outstanding work to conserve important wildlife and their habitats on military land." The initiative seeks to systematically rehabilitate aquatic habitats, reconnect the nation's waterways, minimize invasive species infestations and improve the recreational usage of aquatic resources, the release reported.
"We are honored to receive this award and are excited to continue our partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for years to come,” Woodworth added, according to the release.
