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Saving an "elder statesman"
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By Beth Forbes, Coordinator
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Thanks to the efforts of Purdue University students, a 200-year-old burr oak tree located in a popular West Lafayette, Ind., city park will grow even older.
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| This 200-year-old burr oak tree has a new lease on life, thanks to the efforts of the Purdue Student Society of Arboriculture. |
“After being struck by lightning and damaged by straight-line winds, the tree had become a public hazard,” says Brian Tunis, natural resources coordinator for the West Lafayette Parks and Recreation Department. “We wanted to avoid cutting the tree down, but costs add up quickly. The Purdue Student Society of Arboriculture (PSSA) was the only practical option for us.”
PSSA members installed lightning protection and cabled and braced the 75-foot-tall tree. Local businesses donated materials. “We had to clear out a lot of dead wood, improving the health of the tree and the safety of the public,” says Joe Uhler, PSSA president and a forestry and natural resources major. In addition to saving the tree, Uhler says it was a great learning opportunity for the club. “It was a hands-on, real-world experience that you can’t get in the classroom.”
The Lafayette Tree fund honored PSSA with the 2006 Tree Preservation award for saving a natural habitat.
Photo caption: This 200-year-old burr oak tree has a new lease on life, thanks to the efforts of the Purdue Student Society of Arboriculture.
Photo credit: Harvey Holt
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