Two researchers stand on a ridge in the Chugach MountainsRare and Culturally Significant Plant Inventory

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, 熊猫在线视频

AERC collaborated with UAA鈥檚 to search for rare and culturally significant plant species at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER). The first stage of the project involved whittling down the list of 823 plant taxa found on JBER into a manageable list of target species. The final list included six taxa deemed rare in the state of 熊猫在线视频, and six taxa deemed culturally significant for 熊猫在线视频 Native food, medicine, or practices. To determine cultural significance, AERC collaborated with Chickaloon Native Village, Native Village of Eklutna, Knik Tribal Council, Native Village of Tyonek, and the Kenaitze Indian Tribe via surveys. Next, AERC researchers mapped the sites of suitable habitats and, over the course of a summer, walked across miles of JBER training areas searching for their target plants. The plant inventory will help JBER manage rare and culturally important plants, protect the biodiversity of natural and cultural resources on military lands, and identify mitigation measures to improve the resiliency of target plant populations.