DoD Plans on Destroying 2,000+ Acres of Jungle

This Grey Paper, EIS on Jungle & Wildlife, features a photo of the Guam Micronesian Kingfisher by Eric F. Savage available under a Creative Commons Attribution‐ShareAlike license.

You can obtain a copy of the Grey Paper summary points here (link available).

EIS on Forests & Wildlife

• More than 80% of the remaining limestone forests on Guam are on DoD property.[1]
• DoD plans on destroying over 2,000 acres of limestone and scrub forest for military housing and operations.[2] This does not include any private development, such as worker housing.    
• The total limestone and scrub forest that DoD plans on destroying is larger than Hagåtña and Mongmong-Toto-Maite combined.[3]
• The Department of Agriculture has said that up to 10% of the forests on Guam are at risk because of the proposed buildup.[4]
• DoD’s plans calls for the destruction of over 1,000 acres of recovery habitat for the endangered fanihi, Mariana crow, and Micronesian kingfisher.[5]

Total Forested Area that DoD Plans on Destroying

The Department of Agriculture has stated that “[t]he proposed reduction of forest cover of up to 10% of the total forest cover of Guam is a significant impact that affects the viability of Guam’s forests, including reductions in the benefits of forests: groundwater infiltration, potential habitat, biodiversity, and water quality.”[11]

US Fish and Wildlife Service observed that “[t]he DEIS contains the conclusion that only impacts to primary forest are significant.  Disturbed limestone forest is valuable habitat for many native plants and animals and can aid in recovery of some threatened, endangered, and island-extirpated species.”[12]

Impacts on Guam’s Endangered Species

“There would be direct significant impacts to the endangered Mariana fruit bat, Micronesian kingfisher, and Mariana crow from the clearing of 1,340 ac (542 ha) of recovery habitat for these three species, to the Guam rail from clearing 1,084 ac (439 ha) of recovery habitat . . . .”[13]

Example of DoD Mitigation

“One week prior to clearing vegetation, a qualified biologist would conduct surveys to determine if federally protected species are present in the project site.  For example, if crows are nesting within 984 ft (300 m) of the project site the work would be postponed.  Or if fruit bats are present within 492 ft (150 m) of the project site, the work must be halted and not started again until the bat has left the area.”[14]

[2] This figure is the total of forest “removed” based on figures found in Volume 2, Chapter 10 of the Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”).

[3] Village sizes from the Census Bureau: Agana: 2,333,830, Mongmong-Toto-Maite: 4,785,756 m².  Total: 7,119,586 m² or 1,760 acres.

[4] Vol. 10, Guam Territory Agencies p.  167.

[5] Vol. 10, Chapt. 10, p. 10-178.

[6] Vol. 2, Chapt. 10, p. 10-169 & 10-90.

[7] Vol. 2, Chapt. 10, p. 10-169.

[8] Vol. 2, Chapt. 10, p. 10-169.

[9] EIS, Vol. 2, Chapt. 10, p. 10-178 & 10-122.

[10] EIS, Vol. 2, Chapt. 10, p. 10-178 & 10-139.

[11] EIS, Vol. 10, Guam Territory Agencies p.  167.

[12] EIS, Vol. 10, Fed. Agencies p. 66.

[13] EIS, Vol. 2, Chapt. 10, p. 10-178.

[14] EIS, Vol. 2, Chapt. 10, p. 10-159.