Department of Defense
INSTRUCTION
NUMBER 4715.03
March 18, 2011
Incorporating Change 1, October 5, 2017
USD(AT&L)
SUBJECT: Natural Resources Conservation Program
References: See Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE. This Instruction:
a. Reissues and renames Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 4715.3 (Reference (a))
in accordance with the authority in Department of Defense Directive (DoDD) 5134.01
(Reference (b)) and the guidance in DoDD 4715.1E and DoDI 4715.5 4715.05 (References (c)
and (d)) to establish policy and assign responsibilities for compliance with applicable Federal,
State, and local statutory and regulatory requirements, Executive Orders (E.O.s), Presidential
memorandums, and Department of Defense (DoD) policies for the integrated management of
natural resources including lands, air, waters, coastal, and nearshore areas managed or controlled
by DoD.
b. Develops new policy and updates policy for the integrated management of natural
resources (including biological and earth resources) on property and lands managed or controlled
by DoD.
c. Implements new Natural Resources Conservation metrics.
d. Provides procedures for DoD Components and installations for developing, implementing,
and evaluating effective natural resources management programs.
2. APPLICABILITY. This Instruction:
a. Applies to:
(1) The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), the Military Departments (including
their Reserve Components), the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint
Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of Inspector General of DoD, the Defense Agencies,
the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities in DoD (hereafter referred to
