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Guest written by Wayne Porter, PhD, Captain (ret.), US Navy

Safeguarding natural resources from illegal exploitation and overuse is a systemic necessity of our strategic environment in the 21st Century. I use the term “systemic” because this issue is focused on the complex interrelationships of economics, conservation, and security.

With twenty-eight years active service in U.S. Navy Intelligence and strategy, I have long been focused on our environment’s connection to national and global security. I believe that with a new President and Administration preparing to pursue America’s renewed prosperity and security, we have an opportunity to leverage public-private partnerships that can help safeguard and sustain the natural resources we depend upon.

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