[va-richmond-general] red cockaded woodpecker article

From: Tyler Turpin <tylerturpin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: richmond listserve <va-richmond-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2014 18:10:56 -0500 (GMT-05:00)
The Air Force published this news article  today:

Poinsett Range: the environmental mission

By Airman 1st Class Diana M. Cossaboom, 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs / 
Published November 06, 2014 

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (AFNS) --  The Poinsett Electronic Combat Range, 
previously called Poinsett Bombing Range, opened in 1952 to be used as a 
real-world training range for military personnel.

The 12,500 acre training range, just 20 minutes from Shaw Air Force Base, South 
Carolina, is used by military members from all branches to fly sorties and 
practice targeting with the munitions they carry, as well as ground training 
including tactical air control party, explosive ordnance disposal, and 
survival, evasion, resistance and escape training.

The responsibilities that go with supporting the flying mission, however, go 
way beyond a traffic control tower and pilots. Using the land as a range meant 
Shaw AFB also had to undertake the responsibility to care for the land and all 
wildlife that resides there.

Ronald June, the 20th Civil Engineer Squadron chief of natural and cultural 
resources, and four other experts were assigned to regulate the natural and 
cultural resources on base and the range.

Their goals include re-establishing the endangered species of the Red-cockaded 
Woodpecker, restoring native plant species to Poinsett, including the Longleaf 
Pine, and ensuring the health of the entire ecosystem.

Monitoring the ecosystem for the range includes ensuring the plants and animals 
in the area are healthy. When something adverse happens, the smaller animals 
and plants are the first to be affected.

In 2001, there were only five clusters of Red-cockaded Woodpecker cavity trees 
at Poinsett. Recent counts have reached 27 clusters.

The ecosystem for Poinsett is healthy and the Red-cockaded Woodpeckers that 
reside in Poinsett are unaffected by the flying mission. 
In fact, through habitat management improvements, they have been able to foster 
growth for the woodpecker population in Poinsett.

"I like the unique relationship we have with the Air Force training mission 
where we can manage the natural resources, but at the same time accomplish our 
missions needs and goals," June said.



"Natural resources integrates really well with the Air Force training mission," 
June said. "There are not a lot of ground maneuvers that could cause harm, just 
small target areas. Most of the range is a buffer area in case something goes 
wrong, so that leaves all these natural forested areas to manage."

The natural resources team not only keeps the ecosystem healthy, but makes sure 
the area is suitable for munitions to be dropped safely. One of the most 
effective tools used to accomplish this is prescribed fire.

Prescribed fire is used in order to reduce the excess vegetation and fuels on 
the ground at Poinsett. This helps keep the range open since it eliminates the 
flammable material in the areas where munitions may stray and have the 
potential to start a fire.

"The natural resources team at Shaw Air Force Base and Poinsett Range has been 
able to integrate seamlessly and work together with Shaw (AFB) range operations 
to accomplish the mission of the Air Force," June said.

Even though Poinsett is a large area to cover, it has been able to support the 
Air Force mission while creating a healthy habitat to support the environmental 
mission of the Department of Defense. 
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[va-richmond-general] red cockaded woodpecker article

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