GRAFENWOEHR, Germany – Members from the Installation Training Area Management team (ITAM) lead land maintenance and conservation efforts within the Grafenwoehr Training Area and Hohenfels Training Area daily to conserve the environment’s resources and life.
The 7th Army Training Command directs the ITAM who works with the German Federal Forestry service and the Department of Public Works- Environmental Division. ITAM embraces Earth Day by fostering environmental stewardship in their day-to-day work.
“This (Grafenwoehr Training Area) in the 60s, 70s, was a moonscape,” said Aaron Souto, the ITAM coordinator for GTA and Ansbach. “There weren’t any efforts then to manage the land and caused a lot of erosion issues. It was all dirt, and it’s been a re-stabilization effort to get the land to grow back its natural environment.”
Now that vegetation has grown back within the training areas, the focus of ITAM is to maintain their efforts and continue to comply with German federal laws.
Projects within Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels include: encroaching vegetation removal; unexploded ordinance (UXO) removal along maneuver areas; flooding mitigation; erosion prevention; and wildfire management studies.
“We’re trying to be respectful of our neighbors and improve our environment as much as possible so it’s not affecting other places elsewhere,” said Caroline Garmon, the ITAM land rehabilitation and maintenance coordinator for Hohenfels.
Wildlife conservation efforts are also within the scope of ITAM such as protecting wetlands within the training areas. The training conducted by the multiple units has a secondary affect on the land; it creates new habitats for some animals.
“Diversity is key for a lot of these local endangered species – they need disturbance, vehicle ruts, and fire,” said Souto. “Diversity provides regeneration and new vegetation to eat. The reason why so many species within the area are thriving is because of the diversity; animals love that because it generates new growth.”
The ITAM organization is deeply rooted in mindful use and care for the land and its inhabitants within its military training areas.
We’re leading the front for many species’ habitat preservation, said Souto.