New UH, Army agreement expands environmental stewardship efforts

from UH News, Sept 16, 2025 

The University of Hawaiʻi is expanding its environmental support services to the U.S. Army Garrison Hawaiʻi (USAG-HI) through a new Intergovernmental Support Agreement (IGSA) signed September 16, at the Schofield Barracks Seed Lab. USAG-HI oversees key Army lands on Oʻahu, where UH expertise helps balance training needs with protecting island resources.

“This partnership underscores the University of Hawaiʻi’s role as a trusted partner in conservation and environmental stewardship,” said Chad Walton, UH interim vice president for research and innovation. “Through this agreement, we can apply UH expertise in environmental science and resource management to support the Army’s mission, while creating new, real-world career and workforce development opportunities in environmental stewardship for our faculty, staff and students.”

Building on partnerships

Since 1995, UH and USAG-HI have worked together through the Army Natural Resources Program Oʻahu (ANRPO), a partnership now overseen by the UH System Office of Land and Ocean Conservation Futures. Through ANRPO, UH researchers support environmental stewardship, conservation and natural resources management initiatives at military installations and training grounds on Oʻahu, which is vital for ensuring military readiness, while preserving Hawaiʻi’s natural resources.

For example, USAG-HI has supported dozens of UH 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.

“The University of Hawaiʻi 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 Hawaiʻi,” said Suzanne Case, director of the UH Office of Land and Ocean Conservation Futures. “This expanded partnership is both an opportunity and a kuleana [responsibility] that we take seriously.”

This IGSA will allow UH and USAG-HI 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.

“By tapping into UH’s world-class expertise in environmental science and resource management, we enhance our operational readiness while safeguarding Hawaiʻi’s unique ecosystems for future generations,” said Col. Rachel Sullivan, U.S. Army Garrison Hawaiʻi commander. “This collaboration not only bolsters the Army’s 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’re demonstrating how we can unite to protect our environment, support our community, and build a stronger Army—right here in Hawaiʻi.”