Lending a hand, one tree at a time

Senior Airman Evan Boone, an ammunitions accountability specialist with the 6th Maintenance Squadron, covers a plant with dirt during the Wing’s Arbor Day event Dec. 18, 2015, at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. The planting of the various vegetation helps stabilize the soil and reduce erosion possibilities and return its ecologic value. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mariette M. Adams)

Lending a hand, one tree at a time

Alba Parise, a logistics specialist with the 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron, left, and Senior Master Sgt. James Tadlock, the superintendent of material management with the 6th LRS, right, dig holes for plants during the Wing’s Arbor Day event Dec. 18, 2015, at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. Volunteers planted various vegetation, such as Buttonwood trees, Longleaf pine trees and native grasses. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mariette M. Adams)

Lending a hand, one tree at a time

Volunteers pose for a photo after planting trees and plugs during the Wing’s Arbor Day event Dec. 18, 2015, at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. During the event, volunteers planted 60 Buttonwood trees, 15 Longleaf pine trees, and over 800 plugs of native grasses. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mariette M. Adams)

Lending a hand, one tree at a time

Published Dec. 18, 2015
By Airman 1st Class Mariette M. Adams
6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Over 20 service members and civilians from various squadrons planted 60 Buttonwood trees, 15 Longleaf pine trees, and over 800 plugs of native grasses during the MacDill Arbor Day event Dec. 18, 2015, at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

"The MacDill Arbor Day event is conducted every year to remind all of us of the value of trees, particularly native trees, in our landscape," explained Jason Kirkpatrick, the natural resources program manager with the 6th Civil Engineer Squadron. "Similar to Earth Day, it is a day set aside to focus on the environment, but more specifically the trees and other vegetation that provide habitat for wildlife."

Beyond the environmental benefits to planting trees and plugs, this event is a part of MacDill's effort to restore and repair the land back to its original condition, by stabilizing the soil and reducing erosion possibilities.

The new trees will not only repair the ground and soil, and clean the air by filtering and absorbing pollutants from the area, as well as providing oxygen and removing excess carbon dioxide.

"The Arbor Day event supports an ongoing $410,000 ecosystem restoration project, a collaborative effort between MacDill and a local non-profit company," said Kirkpatrick.

MacDill strives for a healthy community, which requires a healthy environment. This event provides an opportunity for people around the base to give back and restore the environment.

MacDill has made a commitment to be responsible stewards over the land with which they have been entrusted by the public.

"We had an opportunity to plant some pine trees, mangrove trees and a few species of grass," said Senior Airman Evan Boone, an ammunitions accountability specialist with the 6th Maintenance Squadron. "It feels really good to come out here and help the environment."