This project aims to advance the operational use of environmental DNA (eDNA) technologies to support installation modernization and improve the efficiency of wildlife surveillance on Department of Defense (DoD) lands. eDNA offers a rapid, non-invasive, and cost-effective alternative to traditional field surveys, reducing labor demands and increasing detection sensitivity. 

The project will synthesize existing DoD-funded research, identify key barriers to implementation, and demonstrate applied use at three pilot installations. Outcomes will inform scalable strategies for integration into routine land management practices with an emphasis on mission sustainment and long-term cost savings. 

eDNA analysis, or the detection of trace DNA shed by organisms into their environment, has the potential to dramatically improve threatened and endangered species (TES) management on military installations by offering a rapid, non-invasive, and cost-effective tool for surveying TES, invasive species, and other species of concern. Compared to traditional surveys, eDNA analysis can provide greater detection sensitivity, reduce costs by not requiring labor-intensive field efforts, and does not require taxonomic expertise. However, this state-of-the-art technology is underutilized for the surveillance of wildlife on military installations. 

This effort will pull together the leaders in the field of eDNA, including expertise from federal research laboratories and academia, to comprehensively evaluate the challenge and provide realistic and feasible paths forward to solution. This effort will include an assessment of potential partner laboratories (commercial, government, academic) and suggestions for sustained collaborations for survey design, sample processing, analysis, and data interpretation. These findings will inform the development of a strategic framework for broadly integrating eDNA into natural resource management plans across the DoD. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2026)