Endangered tree on Guam to be transplanted for firing range

HAGATNA, Guam – An endangered native tree on Guam will have to be transplanted to make way for a new military firing range.

The Pacific Daily News reports the fadang used to be the most abundant tree in the U.S. territory. But the University of Guam says damage from the Asian cycad scale and caterpillars depleted the tree’s numbers.

Firing range construction will require clearing 89 acres (36.018 hectares) of native limestone forest and 110 acres (44.516 hectares) of disturbed limestone at Andersen Air Force Base.

Work to clear the forest is not expected to start for several months. Roadwork has already started.

The military awarded Black Construction Corp. a $78 million contract for the live-fire training range complex in 2017. The firing range will support U.S. Marines who are moving to Guam from Okinawa, Japan.