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Tinker named Tree City USA for 22nd year

  • Published
  • By Kimberly Woodruff
  • Staff Writer
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  For the past 22 years, Tinker Air Force Base has been recognized as a Tree City USA.

Part of the requirements of being a Tree City USA is holding an Arbor Day celebration. Col. Christopher Azzano, 72nd Air Base Wing and Tinker installation commander, proclaimed March 27 as Arbor Day at Tinker. To commemorate the occasion, Natural Resources staff and volunteers from the Rose State College Tinker Federal Civic Leaders group planted 48 trees in the Urban Greenway. This group has planted more than 400 trees on Tinker in the past seven years.

Among the new trees planted are Rusty Blackhaw, Buckthorn, Wild Cherry, Dwarf Chinquapin Oak, American Plum and Eastern Redbud, all native to central Oklahoma. Five of those species are making their first appearance on base.

During the ceremonial tree planting, John Krupovage, Tinker Natural Resources manager with the 72nd Air Base Wing Civil Engineering Directorate, read the proclamation signed by Colonel Azzano. An excerpt of the proclamation reads,

"Whereas, Arbor Day was first celebrated 143 years ago with the planting of more than a million trees. We all must preserve and protect our vital woodlands for future generations. Tinker AFB is committed to protecting the environment while providing world-class support and service to Department of Defense and Air Force warfighters worldwide."

Planting the trees does more than just help the environment. Mr. Krupovage said being on an active Air Force base, Tinker has a lot of developed areas.  Trees screen out these areas, making the base a greener, more livable community for base residents, campers and other trail users.

It also helps the wildlife. Mr. Krupovage said there are more than 320 documented fish and wildlife species on the base, such as robins, cedar waxwings, bats, foxes and coyotes.

"Conservation by removing trees and other plant life that are not native and are invasive is a good starting place. Then, replacing them with a mix of plants native to our region creates the foundation of a healthy ecosystem," said Mr. Krupovage. Simply put, the greater the diversity of native plants, the greater the diversity of native wildlife.

As for the aircraft mission, Mr. Krupovage said we have to be sensitive to the fact that we fly planes. The trees we planted provide cover and food for woodland birds, which confine most of their activity to the woodland areas away from the airfield. Of greater concern are migratory birds like pelicans which fly over during the spring and fall.

These large birds -- sometimes up to 30 pounds -- can pose significant hazards to flight safety.

Many of the 6,000 trees at Tinker were the result of partnerships with The Tree Bank Foundation, Rose State College, Future Farmers of America and the community.

Tinker must spend a minimum of $2 per capita, or approximately $6,000 annually, have a tree ordinance and tree board to regulate tree management on the installation, and hold an Arbor Day celebration every year as part of the requirements of maintaining the Tree City USA honor.

For more information about trees and Arbor Day, visit www.arborday.org.