{"id":222106,"date":"2025-09-16T12:57:26","date_gmt":"2025-09-16T22:57:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=222106"},"modified":"2025-09-16T16:13:38","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T02:13:38","slug":"uh-army-igsa-signing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/09\/16\/uh-army-igsa-signing\/","title":{"rendered":"New UH, Army agreement expands environmental stewardship efforts"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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UH<\/abbr> Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis Syrmos, UH<\/abbr> Interim Vice President for Research and Innovation Chad Walton, UH<\/abbr> Office of Land and Ocean Conservation Futures Director Suzanne Case and Col<\/abbr>. Rachel Sullivan, with other leaders from UH<\/abbr> and U.S. Army Garrison Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span><\/a> is expanding its environmental support services to the U.S. Army Garrison Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span><\/a> (USAG-HI<\/abbr>) through a new Intergovernmental Support Agreement (IGSA<\/abbr>) signed September 16, at the Schofield Barracks Seed Lab. USAG-HI<\/abbr> oversees key Army lands on Oʻahu<\/span>, where UH<\/abbr> expertise helps balance training needs with protecting island resources.<\/p>\n

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UH<\/abbr> Interim Vice President for Research and Innovation Chad Walton and Col<\/abbr>. Rachel Sullivan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“This partnership underscores the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s role as a trusted partner in conservation and environmental stewardship,” said Chad Walton, UH<\/abbr> interim vice president for research and innovation. “Through this agreement, we can apply UH<\/abbr> expertise in environmental science and resource management to support the Army\u2019s mission, while creating new, real-world career and workforce development opportunities in environmental stewardship for our faculty, staff and students.”<\/p>\n

Building on partnerships<\/h2>\n

Since 1995, UH<\/abbr> and USAG-HI<\/abbr> have worked together through the Army Natural Resources Program Oʻahu<\/span><\/a> (ANRPO<\/abbr>), a partnership now overseen by the UH<\/abbr> System Office of Land and Ocean Conservation Futures<\/a>. Through ANRPO<\/abbr>, UH<\/abbr> researchers support environmental stewardship, conservation and natural resources management initiatives at military installations and training grounds on Oʻahu<\/span>, which is vital for ensuring military readiness, while preserving Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s natural resources.<\/p>\n

For example, USAG-HI<\/abbr> has supported dozens of UH<\/abbr> researchers and technicians to help protect native habitats by conducting research, control and eradication of invasive plants, rodents, slugs and other pests, while also maintaining and restoring populations of endangered plants and animals through development of monitoring, cultivation and reintroduction techniques.<\/p>\n

“The University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> has the experience and expertise, and also the responsibility to our island home, to help ensure the very best education, talent and research in natural research management and environmental stewardship applied to military lands in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>,” said Suzanne Case, director of the UH<\/abbr> Office of Land and Ocean Conservation Futures. “This expanded partnership is both an opportunity and a kuleana [responsibility] that we take seriously.”<\/p>\n

This IGSA<\/abbr> will allow UH<\/abbr> and USAG-HI<\/abbr> to grow and expand its collaborative opportunities in improving environmental resilience, while growing conservation workforce capacity and impact. The agreement represents a stronger partnership model between the U.S. Department of Defense and local institutions nationwide, allowing military installations to improve their operations while caring for island resources, supporting regional economies and leveraging academic expertise.<\/p>\n

“By tapping into UH<\/abbr>\u2019s world-class expertise in environmental science and resource management, we enhance our operational readiness while safeguarding Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s unique ecosystems for future generations,” said Col<\/abbr>. Rachel Sullivan, U.S. Army Garrison Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> commander. “This collaboration not only bolsters the Army\u2019s ability to train and deploy forces under sustainable practices, but it also creates opportunities for workforce development, inspiring students, and researchers to become stewards of these islands. Together, we\u2019re demonstrating how we can unite to protect our environment, support our community, and build a stronger Army—right here in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

UH<\/abbr> researchers support environmental stewardship, conservation and natural resources management initiatives at military installations and training grounds on Oʻahu<\/span>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":222111,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[662,1467,1363,1314,73,947],"class_list":["post-222106","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research","tag-environment","tag-manoa-excellence-in-research","tag-manoa-research","tag-manoa-sustainability","tag-sustainability","tag-uh-system","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t