2025 NPLD Department of Defense Awards

2025 NPLD Department of Defense Awards is sponsored by National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF). Supports projects that protect and improve military lands through environmental stewardship.

2025 NPLD Department of Defense Awards | The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) 2025 NPLD Department of Defense Awards 2025 National Public Lands Day Department of Defense Awards In commemoration of National Public Lands Day (NPLD), the National Environmental Education Foundation has awarded funding for NPLD projects on military lands that are open for recreation.

The 2025 National Public Lands Day Department of Defense Awards provided up to $15,000 to selected installations to implement public lands conservation projects focusing on, but not limited to: pollinator protection; installation resilience; habitat restoration; or natural and cultural resources management, restoration, or enhancement. These projects will take place on or around this year's NPLD celebration on September 27, 2025.

Army Natural Resources Program, Schofield Barracks – Hawaii Mount Kaʻala is home to many endemic Hawaiian plants and animals, including Hawaiian lobelias, Hawaiian honeycreepers, endangered snails, and picture wing flies. Through its popularity as a hiking destination, many invasive species have encroached on the native species, and the boardwalk is slowly deteriorating.

The Army Natural Resources Program, Oʻahu (ANRPO) is hosting two National Public Lands Day events to remove invasive species and rebuild the boardwalk. By improving the habitat of endangered species, repairing the boardwalk and removing invasive species, this project aims to reduce the risk of regulatory restrictions on the land’s use imposed to further protect those species.

Furthermore, repairing the boardwalk will allow easier access to the site for warfighters and their families for mental recuperation and recreation. Bellows Air Force Station – Hawaii The project, 'Mālama Bellows Air Force Station (BAFS) - Restore Wetlands and Coastal Dunes, will be composed of four main tasks.

It will remove invasive species, out-plant native pollinator flora, install educational signage and temporary fencing around restoration areas, and protect stream edges with a trash clean-up. The three pillars of the BAFS mission are resiliency, recreation, and restoration. Through habitat restoration, the integrity of BAFS' reputation is upheld by continuing its conservation of native Hawaiian coastal and riparian habitats.

BAFS is known for its picturesque white sandy beaches, so maintaining the landscape and ecosystem allows warfighters a regenerative place for recreation and relaxation. Providing an environment for these warfighters to recuperate with their families directly contributes to their resiliency and to the greater mission.

By encouraging engagement, education, and participation in volunteer activities, warfighters are able to increase their connection with nature while engaging in rewarding teamwork, which cultivates overall well-being during their recreational stay. The habitat restoration itself increases the resiliency of BAFS by stabilizing the land and protecting the base infrastructure and facilities from coastal erosion.

Eglin Air Force Base – Florida Eglin Air Force Base will create a Monarch butterfly habitat by spreading wildflower seed mix over an old, abandoned borrow pit. They will plant more than 800 plants on site to establish ground cover and bring vegetation back to the site. Bringing vegetation to a barren site will reduce erosion and sedimentation that may threaten other endangered species present on Eglin Air Force Base.

ESA listings (e.g. the proposed listing of the monarch butterfly) can result in limitations on the use of installation lands for conducting military missions. Improving monarch habitat reduces the risk of these limitations being imposed by regulators. At Eglin, we are responsible for maintaining the ranges and all of the species therein to continue to provide the warfighter with realistic training environments.

This proactive management project will allow numerous benefits to the range, the wildlife who live on it, and to the personnel who recreate on it and consider it home. Eielson Air Force Base – Alaska This project involves the acknowledgement of traditional cultural resources through the placement of Traditional Athabascan Placename Signs on the Eielson Air Force Base Installation and Managed Recreation Areas.

The project will provide essential recognition and education about indigenous placenames, the ancient history of the region, and the connection of consulting federally recognized tribes with cultural resources and locations on Eielson AFB with traditional placenames.

Educating military communities on the importance of cultural resource protection and the installation's relationship with federally recognized tribes contributes to mission readiness by reducing costly environmental violations or poor relationships or consultation with federally recognized tribes that could result in lawsuits.

This allows more resources to be directed toward core military functions rather than remediation and mitigation. Additionally, investing in cultural resource focused outreach that incorporates traditional indigenous knowledge can build positive relationships with surrounding communities, reducing potential conflicts that could otherwise impede military activities and hinder mission readiness.

Biologists at Fort Riley are leading an effort to reseed 25 acres of disturbed land with native wildflowers and grasses. The restoration project will improve soil stability, support pollinators and other wildlife, and enhance the ecological health of training areas.

This restoration effort will improve habitat for rare species reducing the risk of regulatory restrictions on the use of DOD’s lands to protect those species should they be listed by US FWS under the Endangered Species Act. It will also improve resilience of the ecosystem, reduce costs associated with erosion and invasive species, and ultimately ensure the long-term usability and sustainability of these realistic training lands.

These efforts underscore Fort Riley's leadership in balancing mission readiness with environmental responsibility, contributing to the health of the Kansas Flint Hills region and strengthening the Army's legacy of land stewardship.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord – Washington For National Public Lands Day 2025, Joint Base Lewis-McChord volunteers will help restore habitat for Federally Endangered Taylor's checkerspot butterflies, as well as several species of rare native birds, bees, and bats.

Biologists will lead an ecological tour at Clear Creek Prairie, where volunteers will conduct post-fire brush removal, install mason bee blocks, and building new purple martin nest towers and bat roost boxes. Endangered species management directly impacts mission readiness by allowing training flexibility on JBLM lands.

Under our new Conservation Policy Initiative (an agreement between JBLM and the US Fish and Wildlife Service), meeting annual species population targets lets us selectively allow training within designated Priority Habitat Areas. This reduces the regulatory burden on military operations, and allows JBLM to do a better job of training and maintaining a lethal fighting force for emerging crises in the Pacific theater and around the world.

Little Rock Air Force Base – Arkansas For National Public Lands Day 2025, Little Rock Air Force Base will host a volunteer event to pick up trash at the pollinator garden and habitats surrounding the pond at an old golf course.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Quail Forever will both have tents set up to teach servicemen and their families about native bees, native plants, and host a tour through the pollinator habitat trail to look for milkweeds and monarchs.

Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing determinations can result in regulatory constraints on military lands and to training activities, impacting the "no net loss" goal for natural resources support of mission readiness.

This project will remove invasive species, plant native plants, and clear the area of manmade debris, allowing DoD natural resource managers to contribute to the recovery and management of at-risk pollinators, including the monarch butterfly, which has been proposed for listing protection under the ESA.

Invasive species and undesirable tree growth in the glideslope of flightlines can impact the ability of installations to carry out their core functions. The removal and maintenance of these sections, by traditional mowing can risk erosion and soil degradation among floodplains.

This project will also manage the 50:1 departure zone on horizontal surfaces for aircraft flights and allow the DoD to maintain access to its west end of the runway for flights and training. Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center – California This project will help improve weather resiliency for the Archeology and Paleontology Curation Center at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center.

The desert is hot and dry, but occasional, severe storms may occur with little warning. In this project, the Marine Corps will engage with its local community to help build reinforcing features in the Curation Center garden and plant native flora that pollinators will use.

The final product will enhance pollinator habitat and recreational options for service member’s families, and most importantly, preserve mission readiness by reducing repair and maintenance costs. Weather resiliency is a major priority for the Marine Corps. This project will help reinforce the Curation Center garden from stochastic weather events.

Well protected facilities help reduce repair and maintenance costs and secure lands and facilities for mission-related objectives. As a result of weather resilience projects, pollinator species such as monarch butterflies and native bees will have better prospects to thrive in our community and demonstrate how weather resiliency projects can benefit both Marine Corps mission and natural resources.

Naval Air Station Corpus Christi – Texas Naval Air Station Corpus Christi will conduct a project to improve management of two protected species, the federally threatened Piping Plover and Green Sea Turtle. The project will fund additional vehicle barriers that will be placed along the edge of the Piping Plover Critical Habitat. These barriers will help prevent damage to the shorebird habitat from off-road vehicle use.

The project will also install two new educational displays that will teach visitors how to safely recreate in Green Sea Turtle habitat. This project will provide for protection of two species listed by the US FWS as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Protecting these species will reduce the risk of further restrictions on land use being imposed should the populations decline further.

These actions also help fulfill commitments made in the NASCC Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan. This project also satisfies a safety and security goal by excluding vehicles from the sand flat, which is within the clear zone of a primary runway approach at NASCC.

Naval Base Coronado, Remote Training Site Warner Springs – California This project focuses on the removal of invasive plant species and the restoration of native vegetation through the planting of container-grown native plants and wildflower seeding for the specific benefit of the Endangered Quino checkerspot butterfly, as well as other native pollinators.

Invasive species are a major threat to local ecosystems, often outcompeting native plants and disrupting wildlife habitats. By removing these harmful plants and reintroducing native species, this project aims to restore the ecological balance of the area, promote biodiversity, and improve pollinator habitat.

Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing determinations can result in regulatory constraints on military lands and to training activities, impacting the "no net loss" goal for natural resources support of mission readiness.

This project will remove invasive species, plant native plants/seed, and clear the area of manmade debris, allowing DoD natural resource managers to contribute to the recovery and management of at risk pollinators, including the Quino Checkerspot butterfly, which is listed as Endangered under the ESA.

Without proactive management, invasive species can quickly degrade ecosystems, leading to further pollinator population declines and increasing the likelihood of endangered species listings causing an impact to training availability. Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads – Virginia This project involves the creation of diverse habitat with an emphasis on creating a pollinator sanctuary.

Installation of this site will involve the removal and maintenance of invasive/non-native plant species, ground disturbance, and broadcast spreading and planting native pollinator plugs to the local region. This area is new to the installation and will provide an area for visitors to interact with nature through the connection of a trail system to a local pond from the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation campground.

Implementation of a pollinator sanctuary as described supports the training and mission requirements of the DOD by reducing the risk of monarch butterflies being listed under the Endangered Species Act and resulting in restrictions on the Navy’s use of this land.

Furthermore, diversifying the habitat on the installation demonstrates to regulatory agencies (i.e. US FWS) the support of the Navy and its resources, while providing justification to continue executing the mission to train the warfighter concurrently. In alignment with the DoD’s Monarch Strategy, the Navy is focused on continuing to use its authorities to conserve monarchs through identification, documentation, and habitat management.

Naval Support Activity Mid-South – Tennessee This project will help restore and revitalize the Nature Trail area at Naval Support Activity Mid-South. While collaborating and coordinating with volunteers and event participants, a riparian zone will be restored, a pollinator field will be protected, a new pollinator garden will be created, and environmental stewardship will be promoted.

These actions will benefit people and natural resources immediately and for generations to come. Flooding affects military lands, communities, and natural resources, disrupting training schedules and damaging infrastructure. This project will reduce soil erosion and sedimentation into Big Creek, which is a highly regulated, impaired stream that receives all of our installation’s stormwater.

This project will also help create a more flood-resilient landscape to maintain mission readiness for training and operations. This project will open the door for environmentally focused outreach and educating military communities on the importance of environmental protection, which contributes to mission readiness by building positive relationships with the community and reducing costly environmental violations.

Furthermore, this project will enhance morale, welfare, and recreational opportunities for military personnel and support staff, which ultimately supports the Navy's warfighting mission. Naval Station Mayport – Florida The goal of this project is to restore and improve Helen Cooper Floyd Memorial Park, a 33-acre parcel of Navy-owned land under military airspace.

The park provides habitat for listed species and is open to public recreation. Across a series of workdays, Navy natural resources staff and volunteers will remove trash and invasive plant species, establish native plants for pollinators and wildlife, and install interpretive signs and monofilament recycling bins.

Controlling development encroachment around Naval Station Mayport is a vital component of maintaining mission readiness by ensuring safe airway navigation and operations. The restoration and improvement of Helen Cooper Floyd Memorial Park will work to support the installation’s mission to maintain the biological integrity of undeveloped land surrounding Naval Station Mayport and reduce any threats to airway navigation.

By removing invasive plants, adding to native plant diversity, and providing public interpretation information, these efforts will also contribute to Mayport’s commitment to protecting populations of rare and listed species such as gopher tortoises, manatees, monarch butterflies, and migratory birds.

Doing so reduces the risk of regulatory restrictions to the use of these lands resulting from efforts by the US FWS to further protect these species should their populations decline further.

Finally, this project will also foster our critical relationships with the City of Jacksonville, who leases Helen Cooper Floyd Memorial Park, other agencies (US Army Corps of Engineers) and adjacent communities such as the town of Mayport North Carolina National Guard, Kure Beach Training Center – North Carolina This project will enhance the Kure Beach Training Center - Blue Star Pollinator Garden into a native habitat of coastal herbaceous species, pollinator-friendly shrubs, and trees, that also provides a beautiful space to honor our currently serving members of the US Armed Forces.

Visitors will have the opportunity to relax, explore, and learn about the importance of native pollinators in the landscape, conservation, and good stewardship. The North Carolina National Guard mission is to deploy military capabilities, in support of National and/or State authorities, in order to protect the lives and properties of fellow Citizens, defend the Nation and State, and secure our American way of life.

The vision of the organization is to strive to be a Ready, Reliable, and Responsive Force for our Nation and State, by placing People First, always Building Readiness, and Modernizing Infrastructure and Equipment. This Blue Star Pollinator Garden project supports protecting public properties for our fellow Citizens by developing native habits, as well as educating visitors on conservation and stewardship.

The project will honor the currently serving service members which we strive to place first. The Kure Beach Training Center has a goal of being a world class training facility and this project will provide a beautiful, engaging, and informative space for training attendees to enjoy.

Oregon Military Department, Camp Rilea – Oregon The Neacoxie Creek riparian restoration project represents a significant investment in the health and resilience of our public lands. By planting native alder trees and associated species, volunteers will improve pollinator habitat, protect critical infrastructure, and restore a historically valuable ecosystem.

This riparian restoration and invasive species management project directly supports the Department of Defense’s mission by enhancing the long-term resilience of Camp Rilea and its training lands. Erosion control along Neacoxie Creek safeguards critical infrastructure and maintains access to vital training areas, ensuring uninterrupted operational readiness.

A healthy ecosystem improves the overall environmental security of the installation, reducing long-term maintenance costs and potential disruptions. Furthermore, restoring native landscapes contributes to natural resource management – a key component of sustaining military lands for continued use and fulfilling stewardship responsibilities.

This project proactively addresses environmental vulnerabilities, directly impacting the ability to maintain a ready and sustainable fighting force. Paepae o He’eia, Marine Corps Base Hawaii – Hawaii Ola Nu'upia is a partnership between local community and the Marine Corps Base Hawai'i. The partnership builds “pilina” (relationships) between the Marine Corps and Hawaiian community as well as a reconnection to place.

Work involves vegetation clearing to reveal the fishpond wall in addition to conducting joint site visits and discussions regarding restoration. The Ola Nu'upia project supports the Marine Corps Base Hawai'i's Installation resilience. Relationships between MCBH and surrounding communities is critical to the stability of the installation on Oahu.

In addition, MCBH has a mission requirement to provide access to important cultural resources for Hawaiian Practitioners as part of its Integrated Cultural Resources Management Plan. The removal of invasive vegetation will also improve habitat quality for the endangered waterbirds that inhabit the fishponds which furthers the goals of the MCBH's Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan.

Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach – California This project will focus on developing citizen scientist programs or engaging community members and Navy personnel in new or existing monitoring programs to support sustainability of local wildlife and endangered species.

In addition, it will engage participants in habitat enhancement and restoration activities to support wildlife and provide a valuable educational experience to the participants. The development of these preliminary citizen scientist programs will help inform Navy and other outreach partners of strategies to improve the programs and environmental educational experiences for community members and Navy personnel.

This project will result in habitat improvements for several species that are listed under the Endangered Species Act. Improving the habitat is intended to reduce the risk of further regulatory restrictions that could encroach on the installation’s ability to fulfill its mission of “providing shore-based infrastructure support to the Navy’s ordnance mission and other fleet and fleet-supported activities” at full capacity.

Furthermore, the Navy is required to maintain compliance with the Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan in order to maintain mission readiness. These actions support that Plan. Finally, NWS Seal Beach is also unique in that it encapsulates a National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) which fosters a volunteer group, the Friends of the Seal Beach NWR that contributes to conservation efforts and community outreach.

Without compliance, the installation’s Natural Resources Management program may come under the scrutiny of local environmental organizations, whether real or perceived. Texas Military Department, Camp Mabry – Texas This project will involve enhancing the area around a historic Works Progress Administration-constructed bridge on Camp Mabry.

Volunteers for this project at Austin’s historic Camp Mabry will remove debris from the creek and a recreational trail in the vicinity of a historic WPA-built stone bridge. In addition, new interpretive signage will educate all site users about the history of the WPA at Camp Mabry.

The project will reduce the potential for damage both to the local ecosystem and to historic resources due to flooding and vegetation growth in and around masonry by removing trash and debris from the streambed.

The project will also involve removing invasive plant species growing on and near the bridge, trimming vegetation overgrowth, and planting pollinator-friendly native plants around the bridge and nearby designated pollinator zones. The project will reduce the potential for damage to the ecosystem and historic resources due to flooding and vegetation growth in and around a WPA-built bridge.

It will also reduce the risk of restrictions on the use of this installation’s land for training, testing, and operations by improving habitat for pollinators such as the monarch butterfly, which is under consideration for listing and protection under the Endangered Species Act.

Furthermore, educating the military community and other site users about the importance of natural and cultural resource protection promotes a sense of stewardship with regard to the Installation, thereby enhancing mission readiness.

University of Illinois, Fort Hood – Texas The Fort Hood Adaptive and Integrative Management (AIM) Team is stepping up its monarch butterfly conservation efforts by installing 40 outdoor signs to designate high-priority monarch habitats and no-mow zones across the installation. We're also enhancing a pollinator garden by adding a drip irrigation system with a two-zone timer and a new rock water feature.

These initiatives will provide vital water resources for birds and pollinators, boosting biodiversity and strengthening the ecological health of Fort Hood's training lands. This project directly supports the Department of Defense's mission by improving monarch habitat through signage to prevent accidental mowing, we reduce the risk of disruptions to training land use due to regulations that protect endangered species.

This proactive conservation also aligns with Army policy to maintain healthy ecosystems that are essential for realistic training environments. The pollinator garden's water feature and improved habitat directly contribute to the well-being of our service members by offering a serene natural space for mental recuperation, a vital component of a resilient force.

Grantee Promotional Toolkit This press kit is a resource to be used by NEEF Grantees to assist in the promotion and storytelling of grant... NEEF_2025 NPLD DoD RFA. pdf Download a PDF version of this Request for Application National Public Lands Day Department of Defense Awards For over 25 years, NEEF has partnered with the Department of Defense (DoD) on its Legacy Program to provide...