“Restore our Earth”

22 April 2021

Earth Day 2021 Statement by -- Acting Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment (EI&E) Todd L. Schafer

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Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Energy, Installations and Environment) (Acting)

Todd L. Schafer

Sailors assigned to U.S. Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia pose for a group photo Aug. 21, 2020, after participating in a beach cleanup hosted by the base chapel.

Oyster castle installation event at the Lafayette River Annex on July 16 and 17.

The Department of the Navy (DoN) is constantly present in the environment. Our Sailors and Marines operate on the sea, under the sea, in the air, and on the ground. The United States of America is a maritime nation, and with 90 percent of international trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the global internet traffic traveling along undersea cables, our dependence on the oceans is undeniable. In addition to maintaining a forward presence around the globe, we must also remember to take care of the environment in which we operate. This Earth Day, we recognize and celebrate the DoN's longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship with the 2021 Earth Day theme, “Restore our Earth.” The actions we continue to take to care for and restore our environment will contribute to our ability to maintain a global presence.

Our actions to “Restore our Earth” extend beyond 22 April. While our military around the world is participating in events such as beach and base cleanups, we should also recognize the incredible work coming from our Navy and Marine Corps team every day. We thank our active and reserve uniformed members and Federal civil service members, environmental specialists, biologists and volunteers for taking pride in caring for the ecosystems and communities in which we operate.

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VIDEO | 02:04 | Cattail Lake Monitoring and Restoration Project Matt Ridgway, a Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Northwest biologist, and Jessie Rains, a Naval Base Kitsap biologist, highlight the monitoring and restoration efforts made at Cattail Lake on Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor over the course of 10 years. The project began in 2012 to reestablish forested wetlands, flowing streams and salt marsh habitat in the area. The most recent restoration effort included planting 9,000 trees to help increase vegetative diversity throughout the system. This project demonstrates the Navy's commitment to environmental stewardship responsibility. (U.S. Navy video by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Heather C. Wamsley)

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