The Compatible Lands Foundation is working with JBER and surrounding landowners to protect the military mission through land conservation. This is critical given that much of the undeveloped land surrounding JBER has a diverse makeup of parks, wetlands, streams, lakes, and forests that provide habitat for avian, aquatic, and mammalian species. Larger mammals such as bear and moose need adequate undeveloped space to thrive unhindered by human interference.

In recent years, encroachment pressure on JBER has grown significantly as the greater Anchorage area continues to grapple with population growth and urban sprawl. Development pressures along the northeastern border of the installation has resulted in noise complaints and trespassing challenges, which in turn have caused delays of training and testing activities on base. To protect its mission and mitigate future restrictions, JBER is working with partners to acquire restrictive use easements on properties that lie adjacent to the installation’s training and maneuver ranges.