The University of Hawaii , and the , Department of the Navy , signed Monday an extraordinary 10-year partnership aimed at safeguarding natural and cultural solutions on , Navy , and , Marine Corps , installations in the state.
The arrangement, a green international aid arrangement, is the first of its kind in , Hawaii , between an educational institution, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii, and , Marine Corps , Installations Pacific, and is the next in the nation, following the , University of Georgia, which signed its IGSA in September.
The partnership between UH and the , Navy  focuses on enhancing weather endurance at military bases and surrounding areas, addressing growing issues posed by extreme weather and climate risks.
The deal encompasses Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and , Marine Corps Base Hawaii , on , Oahu, as well as the Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands on , Kauai. It allows the , Navy , to potentially allocate up to$ 10 million annually to UH for projects and services aimed at boosting the resilience of these installations.
UH Vice President for Research and Innovation , Vassilis L. Syrmos , told the , Honolulu Star-Advertiser , that conversations about the overcoat deal began about a month and a half ago during deals with the Army,  , Navy , and , Air Force , about UH’s conservation and natural resource management function in , Hawaii , and the Pacific.
” One of the suggestions was to make the international support contract and put all those activities under that overcoat, making the universities an exclusive companion with the , Navy , to perform this task in conservation and natural resource control,” Syrmos said. We are eager to carry it out because we have the best agents on the ground.
The deal, according to Yrmos, highlights UH’s skills in conservation and natural resource administration, demonstrating that the school is a leader both locally and internationally.
Under the deal, UH will offer assistance in areas including natural assessments, parasite and predator control, marine debris removal, shoreline stabilization, light management and floodplain analysis.
Additionally, the university will contribute to plans for cultural and natural resource management by providing specialized services that incorporate traditional ecological knowledge.
The Navy’s participation in this partnership shows that it is devoted to utilizing UH’s expertise to fulfill its responsibilities in terms of natural and cultural resources, according to Syrmos.
Syrmos expressed his satisfaction that UH was able to reach an important agreement with the , Navy, arguing that those who reside and work in Hawaii  have a duty to be responsible stewards of the land.
By utilizing UH’s knowledge and expertise in these areas, the Navy, according to Syrmos, also demonstrates its commitment to fulfilling its natural and cultural resource responsibilities.
Director of , UH Office of Land and Ocean Conservation Futures Suzanne Case , told the , Star-Advertiser , that the umbrella agreement would allow UH to take on numerous environmental projects as they arise, helping the , Navy , fulfill its responsibility to care for the land and be a positive community partner.
The projects will be rolled out over time and could include wetland restoration, endangered species monitoring and recovery, biological monitoring, and efforts related to seabirds, sea turtles, migratory birds and other natural resource management. Additionally, it will involve environmental protection and cultural resource management, both of which are essential for conservation in , Hawaii.
Case said UH possesses extensive expertise in natural resource management, biology, marine biology, life sciences and physical sciences.
She noted that when the , Navy , requires assistance on a project, the department can just tap into the university’s vast resources. She also praised UH’s strong partnership with the Army, particularly through its long-standing partnership with the Army Natural Resource Program in Oahu.
Case emphasized that the university’s involvement in endangered species committees and watershed partnerships opens up opportunities for collaboration and sharing of knowledge.
Assistant Secretary of the , Navy , for Energy, Installations and Environment , Meredith Berger, who also serves as the Navy’s chief sustainability officer, highlighted the community’s responsibility to protect Hawaii’s environment.
UH prioritizes federal partnerships like the IGSA in order to achieve meaningful results in environmental and cultural stewardship across the state as part of its land-, sea-, and space-grant mission.
The agreement reflects a wider trend of defense programs nationwide investing in collaborations to understand and lessen the effects of severe weather and other threats on military operations. Additionally, it establishes UH as a crucial partner in juggling Hawaii’s unique environmental and cultural obligations with national defense requirements.
” I applaud the , University of Hawai  ,’i and the , U. S. Navy , for entering into this historic agreement to protect and manage natural and cultural resources on military installations in Hawai ‘ i which will increase the , Navy , and Marine Corps ‘ climate resilience and bolster readiness”,  , U. S.  , Sen.  , Mazie Hirono , said in a statement. ” By enabling the , Navy , to utilize UH’s world-class resources and insight to address climate-related challenges, this agreement will help the military better protect Hawai ‘ i’s natural resources and strengthen our national security”.
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