Luke AFB Thunderbolt, May 2019
P. 1
“We train the world’s greatest fighter pilots and combat ready Airmen”
INSIDE
May 2019 Vol. 18, No. 5
StorIES
A&FRC keeps Airmen fit-to-fight, 3
Toastmasters, 4
New library director, 5 F-35s deploy to combat, 6 Equine therapy, 8
FEAtUrE
Airman 1st Class Aspen Reid
2019 DESERT DOG TRIALS
See Page 10
Courtney Kipp, Tunista Services pronghorn biologist, peers through an observation scope April 17 at the Barry M. Goldwater Range East. A team of biologists contracted by the Air Force use strategic vantage points and visual observations with the aid of binoculars and spotting scopes, as well as telemetry surveillance, to safely locate radio-collared pronghorn on the range.
Earth Day 2019 theme: ‘Protect our species’
Story and photo by Airman 1st Class ZOIE COX
56th Fighter Wing, Public Affairs
Earth Day, observed annually on April 22, is the largest, most celebrated environmen- tal event worldwide with more than 175 countries and 1 billion people commemorat- ing the day each year.
According to the Earth Day Network, Earth Day celebrates the planet’s envi- ronment and raises public awareness by reminding people to think about human- ity’s values, the threats the planet faces and ways to help protect the environment. The theme for Earth Day 2019 is “Protect Our Species.”
“People march, sign petitions, meet with their elected officials, plant trees and clean up their towns,” said Kathleen Rogers, Earth Day Network president, whose mis- sion is to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide.
The Barry M. Goldwater Range East has a dual role as a national asset for military training as well as a stunning landscape
where Sonoran Desert flora and fauna flourish. The 56th Range Management Of- fice Environmental Science Management Flight at Luke Air Force Base is tasked with managing the natural and cultural resources at BMGR East.
“Two federally listed species occur at BMGR East: the Sonoran pronghorn and Acuna Cactus,” said Aaron Alvidrez, 56th RMO wildlife biologist. “Both are listed as endangered.”
The Sonoran pronghorn is a desert- adapted subspecies of American pronghorn, the fastest land mammal in North America. In the early 2000s, the pronghorn popu- lation dramatically crashed to about 20 animals due to severe drought. Since then, the Sonoran Pronghorn Recovery Team has been tirelessly caring for pronghorn, grow- ing the endangered population to now more than 200 animals.
“The Air Force funds a team of biolo- gists to monitor target areas inhabited by Sonoran pronghorn,” Alvidrez said. “Moni- toring is conducted from strategic vantage points and includes visual observations with the aid of binoculars and spotting
scopes, as well as telemetry surveillance to locate radio-collared pronghorn.”
The monitoring program is very effective, Alvidrez said. To date, they have not docu- mented any evidence of pronghorn injury or mortality due to military activities.
Alvidrez went on to explain that repre- sentatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Department of Defense, Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Tohono O’odham Nation form the Sonoran Pronghorn Recovery Team. Together, they work toward the recovery goal of conserving and protecting the Sonoran pronghorn and its habitat so that its long-term survival is secured.
“The Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan establishes a long-term stewardship program to protect, conserve and rehabilitate natural resources, including Sonoran pronghorn and its habitat,” Alvidrez said. “The Sonoran pronghorn is an iconic native Sonoran Desert species. It is very im- portant to the RMO to continue our Sonoran pronghorn conservation actions as well as supporting the military training mission.”
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