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Environmental Impact [Military base]

Aerial View of Hanscom Airforce Base, Massachusetts, United States

The environmental impact of a given military base is dependent on its size and the manner of operation conducted at the base. Commonly, habitat destruction, reductions in soil quality, chemical contamination, and noise pollution are among the environmental damages caused by military bases. The environmental impacts of military bases are not always negative. For example, installations dedicated to nuclear arms manufacturing and testing often improve biodiversity outcomes for the ecosystems where they are located via reduced human traffic through the area.

Impacts of Construction

The development of military bases, like any construction project, has the potential to carry a number of environmental consequences. Due to the various operational purposes of bases and the unique biophysical factors surrounding each area, the impact of development is unique to the location in which it occurs. A training base to be constructed in a dense, forested area will involve the elimination of vegetation. This would lead to increased rates of soil erosion and water runoff, which could change the biophysical processes of the ecosystem, rendering it potentially uninhabitable to the plant and animal species that once existed in that space. Conversely, a naval base to be constructed on an artificial island runs the risk of irreversibly changing the dynamics of the host ecosystem which could have negative implications for biodiversity. Broadly, detrimental impacts from the establishment and construction of bases may include changes to soil structure, habitat fragmentation, and eco-toxicity.

Contamination from Military Bases

Military base operations and maintenance often result in the deposition of hazardous materials into the environments in which they exist. For example, in 2001 the United States Forces Korea Yongsan Garrison and Camp Kim bases had been linked to an oil spill. As a consequence of the spill hazardous chemicals including toluene, xylene, and benzene were found in the nearby groundwater which local peoples and ecosystems depend on at 958 times a safe level. Similarly, abandoned United States Forces bases in Afghanistan and the surrounding areas were found to be rife with long-lasting toxic elements from base operations. Such contaminants have been associated with damage to the respiratory and digestive systems of human populations and local wildlife alike. Contamination from base operations and maintenance is so pervasive that 149 active and abandoned domestic United States Forces bases have been listed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as among the most toxic areas in the continental United States. Though the kind of contamination will depend on the specific operations of the base, frequent causes include pesticide use, fuel spills, and testing or training involving the live-fire of munitions. Furthermore, military bases dedicated to the development of nuclear arms have been associated with the contamination of the atmosphere and the surrounding environment by radiative elements. This increases the risk to surrounding wildlife of contracting several chronic health issues including cancer.

Impacts from Training and Testing

M777 Howitzer Test Firing by the United States Army

Military training activities are often harmful to the ecosystems in which they take place. The repeated firing of explosive munitions can irreversibly change the nature of an ecosystem. This destruction renders the land uninhabitable for some of its composite species. The use of armoured vehicles can further damage the environment in which they are employed. Local floral species are ground to a pulp under their immense weight, and changes in soil composition—often to the detriment of the ecosystem—are commonplace. Wildlife may also be struck by stray bullets, explosive munitions, and armoured or aerial vehicles. Additionally, noise pollution is a common side-effect of military training activities, which is particularly problematic for the marine life which surrounds naval military bases.

Beneficial Impacts

The Red-cockaded Woodpecker, a species whose conservation was assisted by the United States Armed Forces’ network of military bases

The environmental impact of military bases are not entirely negative. Typically military bases exist in isolated areas, are subject to only minor human traffic, and are lightly developed compared to civilian areas. Because of this, and despite the aforementioned negative impacts, military bases are home to many endangered species. One such example is the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, found in their largest numbers at United States Forces Bases in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Recently, Fort Bragg, a United States Forces Base located in North Carolina, collaborated with conservationists to restore Red-Cockaded Woodpecker populations. As a result, they are no longer considered an endangered species.

Adaptation Efforts

A changing climate will impact the operation of United States Forces bases, according to United States Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin III. At present, half of the military facilities owned and operated by the United States are vulnerable to climate-related impacts. For example, the Offutt Air Force Base, located in Nebraska, United States, was victim to extreme flooding in spring of 2019. This has impacted base readiness, and it will take approximately four years to return former operational function. Recently, the United States armed forces has taken interest in constructing more sustainable, resilient military bases to adapt to this rising threat. Currently, the United States Armed Forces is investigating private partnerships to modernize United States Forces Bases with clean technology and looking to improve data collection pertaining to climate change and environmental risks.