Giving Mother Nature a helping hand

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Volunteers offered Mother Nature a helping hand by planting nearly 100 trees on Eglin's reservation Jan. 15.

The event was an effort to control soil erosion out on the reservation. The 96th Environmental Management Natural Resources Section, Jackson Guard, armed with 24 volunteers, planted a total of 94 live and laurel oak, long pine and wax myrtle trees, in a two-acre area.

"Volunteers are absolutely essential to our work," said Erica Laine, Jackson Guard Volunteer Coordinator. "It simply couldn't be done without them."

Planting trees can be beneficial in many ways, including soil erosion control. Soil erosion is a naturally occurring process by which vital topsoil is lost either by wind, water or human activity. Much of the nutrients plants need to survive reside within this layer of soil. Loss of topsoil could result in a barren landscape if it isn't kept in check.

"Planting trees helps to slow down water, and their root systems keep the soil in place," said Ms. Laine.

Trees are usually planted during the winter time during the non-growth season. This prevents the plants from getting root shock, when a plant is stressed due to a change in environment.

"I think what we're doing is very important," said Kimberly Murphy, University of West Florida Environmental Studies student. "By helping to reestablish a part of the ecosystem, we're also helping to restore its natural biodiversity."

Before the volunteers could begin planting the trees, an area had to be cleared of brush and other competing vegetation to improve the plants' chances of survival. This was done a day prior with weed eaters and by tilling the land.

The volunteers weren't simply digging holes to plant the trees. They also added a special fertilizer, soil fungi to make the plants more vigorous, and hydrosorb crystals, a superabsorbent polymer that acts like a sponge to retain water in case of drought.

"Mother Nature is going to heal 99 percent of this ecosystem on its own with time," said Sandi Pizzolato, Jackson Guard erosion control specialist. "We're simply helping to provide the environment structure to help jump start the process."

Though the work could be classified as a "dirty job," that doesn't seem to deter volunteers as Jackson Guard currently has more than 1,000 volunteers listed in its database.

"The ground can get hard to dig in, I enjoy being able to get down and dirty," said Senior Airman Christopher Schreiber, 16th Electronic Warfare Squadron and volunteer.

As of 2008, 530 erosion control sites have been completed covering more than 750 acres. However, soil erosion control is an ongoing process and there is still much to do.

"I'm willing to do anything I can that can help," said Staff Sgt. Jeff Moultrie, a volunteer from the 33rd Fighter Wing. "We're just doing our part to give back."