The department of defense has contracted the U.S. Fish and wildlife service to restore wildlife habitat on multiple installations

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Region 5, through its Coastal Program (CFDA 15.630), awarded Western Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc. a Cooperative Agreement valued at $315,167.72, effective July 1, 2025, with completion targeted for November 25, 2026. The awardee will implement wildlife habitat restoration activities across multiple Department of Defense (DoD) installations in Maryland, including designing and establishing pollinator-friendly native species meadows, planting native trees to expand forest coverage, managing invasive species, and conducting natural forest regeneration initiatives. These habitat restoration efforts support federal trust species protection and enhance ecosystem resilience on military installations.

In addition to direct habitat restoration work, the awardee will facilitate community engagement and environmental stewardship by making restoration sites accessible to the DoD installation community and developing educational signage to promote appreciation for these natural spaces. The projects will deliver ancillary benefits to the installations, including reduced mowing costs, improved stormwater management, and progress toward Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) compliance goals. As a non-profit conservation organization with extensive experience implementing restoration and management activities through cooperative agreements with federal agencies, Western Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Area is well-positioned to deliver these integrated habitat and community benefit outcomes across the project performance period.

This work includes designing and implementing pollinator-friendly, native species meadows planting native trees or fostering natural regeneration to expand forests planting native flowering plants, shrubs or trees and conducting invasive species management. In additional to habitat restoration, work includes facilitating the department of defense communitys enjoyment and appreciation for these natural spaces. These efforts include making several sites accessible to the installation community and developing and installing educational signage. Additionally, these projects help installations with reducing costs of mowing, stormwater management, and meeting their total maximum daily loads goals.