Tinker celebrates Arbor Day by planting trees

Published April 15, 2014
By Kimberly Woodruff
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- National Arbor day is April 25, but Tinker celebrated Oklahoma Arbor Day the last week in March, when members of Team Tinker and other volunteers planted 50 new cedar trees on the installation.

John Krupovage, natural resources manager with the 72nd Air Base Wing Civil Engineering Directorate, said Tinker is a Tree City USA for the 21st straight year and planting trees is just one of the requirements to hold that honor.

To maintain the Tree City USA status, Tinker also has to have a base tree management policy, an urban forestry working group, an annual expenditure of at least $2 per capita, or approximately $6,000, and an annual Arbor Day celebration.

During the celebration, Mr. Krupovage read a proclamation signed by Col. Christopher Azzano, 72nd Air Base Wing and Tinker installation commander. An excerpt of the proclamation reads, "Tinker AFB is committed to protecting the environment while providing world-class support and service to Department of Defense and Air Force warfighters world-wide."

Seven volunteers with the Tinker Federal Civic Leaders group from Rose State College were on hand to plant trees in the Urban Greenway, located on the west and south sides of Bldg. 1017. Officials estimate this group has planted nearly 400 trees on Tinker in the past six years.

Mr. Krupovage said cedars planted in the Urban Greenway serve multiple purposes. The cedars will eventually grow and replace the current split-rail fence as a living fence. Being on an active Air Force base, it is important to have a barrier to protect natural areas. The cedars will also serve as a noise and visual screen.

Mr. Krupovage said wildlife such as robins, cedar waxwings, foxes and coyotes make their home or migrate through the greenway and need the cedars for food and cover.

Cedars, usually seen as a scourge, are the only evergreen tree indigenous to the central part of the state.

"Because they are native, once the trees are established, we won't have to baby them, watering and mulching, which is important because we just don't have the funds or manpower to do so," he said.

Did you know that in some species, there are male and female trees? In the eastern red cedar, females have blue berries and the males don't. In the spring, males take on a more rusty color, which is from the pollen-producing cones. The wind does the rest. Mr. Krupovage said without proper management cedars spread naturally and can get out of control.

He said prior to settlement, naturally occurring fires kept the cedars in check. But since the Land Run, fire suppression has been the norm, allowing cedar populations to expand rapidly in density and distribution.

"It is our job to manage the land and keep the cedars in check," Mr. Krupovage said. "Because we are the federal government, we need to lead the way and set the example of land management," he said.

Mr. Krupovage said homeowners have a responsibility to manage their land as well.
Many of the 6,000 trees at Tinker are the result of partnerships with The Tree Bank Foundation and the community. Nearly 3,000 seedlings have been grown and transplanted from Tinker's Tree Farm since 1994.
For more information, visit www.arborday.org.