B04.1 Introduction
Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB) is dedicated to achieving mission readiness, improved base resilience, and enhanced quality of life through optimized land management practices. These integrated land management design guidelines advance the creation of a base landscape that reflects the restorative partnership between the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to advance best management practices employed within Tyndall AFB’s Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP).
These guidelines provide a framework of best practices and performance goals to create sustainable outcomes rather than prescribe site-specific solutions. The designer/contractor will use these guidelines as applicable to their specific project. This effort requires collaboration with Tyndall AFB Natural Resources staff for plant species selection and collaboration with base plan reviewers in incorporating landscapes that perform measurable outcomes in environmental, social, and economic goals. Performance landscapes can provide benefits such as flood protection, maintenance reductions, and mental wellbeing.
Integrated land management practices will be employed to:
- Restore and maintain natural base hydrology
- Align with current efforts in native Longleaf Pine forest restoration
- Improve walkability
- Enhance base character and quality of life
- Minimize environmental impacts to Tyndall AFB's vital coastal ecosystem
- Attract and retain base personnel and staff by making a positive first impression of a sustainable, coastal installation
- Improve mental and physical health and wellbeing
- Design for greater connection to nature which has been proven in reduce stress levels and a decrease in suicide rates
- Reduce infrastructure costs by using grey stormwater infrastructure.
- Implement Low-Impact Development (LID) principles
If adhered to properly, an integrated land management approach to overall base construction and maintenance operations will help Tyndall AFB meet numerous key objectives:
- Improve stormwater management and soil health for reduced maintenance and capital costs
- Reduce heat island effect for walkability and energy conservation by increased shade from tree canopy
- Increase biodiversity and biomass through use of native plants to align with USFWS efforts
- Develop a plant palette that maximizes greater wind resistance and natural stormwater absorption
- Reduce the use of harmful chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides
- Reduce landscape maintenance costs
- Improve air quality
- Minimize tree failures by placing trees in masses, designed as a system with natural ground plane vegetation, rather than singular tree installations
- Maximize the use of native ground plane vegetation rather than turf
- Maximize tree rooting strategies to minimize occurrence of uprooting during high winds