Forest Resources and Conservation

Dr. Michael Andreu, Associate Professor & Extension Coordinator

Degrees:
Ph.D., Silviculture & Forest Protection, University of Washington, 2005
M.F. Forest Resource Management, Duke University, 1995
B.A., Natural Resources, Sewanee:The University of the South, 1992

Prior Work Experience:
Larson & McGowin – Branch Manager & Forester – AL, MS & LA
Eglin Air Force Base Jackson Guard – Fire Ecologist – FL
International Paper Company, Southlands Experiment Forest – Forest Ecology – GA
The Nature Conservancy, TNC Southeast Regional Office & Apalachicola Bluffs & Ravines Preserve – Field Ecologist – TN, NC & FL
Canyonlands National Park, the Maze District – Backcountry Ranger – UT

My appointment with the SFRC is split between Teaching and Extension. I served as the Undergraduate Coordinator for three of our undergraduate B.S. degree programs (Forest Resource Conservation, Natural Resource Conservation and Geomatics) from 2010-2018. During my tenure as the UPC our undergraduate programs grew in enrollment, were ranked in the top 5 in the US, and the FRC and GEO degrees were re-accredited by the Society of American Foresters and ABET respectively.

In 2019, I assumed the role as the SFRC Extension Coordinator.

Teaching Program:
I regularly teach two undergraduate courses FNR 3131C Dendrology and Forest Plants & FOR 4934 Florida’s Forest Communities offered in Fall semesters. I also teach an online graduate level course FOR 6934 Ecology and Restoration of Invaded Ecosystems offered in Spring semesters.
In addition to these courses every other year I teach a traveling field course for advanced undergraduate and graduate students titled Ecosystems of the Southeastern U.S. During this 10-day course we learn about the forests while completing a transect from the coast plain of South Carolina through the Piedmont and Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina and ending on the Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee.
I also have been leading 14-day study abroad courses in Belize since 2011 titled Field Methods in Ecology in the Tropics and a 8-day course titled: Wildlife Ecology and Conservation in the Tropics: Belize

Other courses taught in the past include:
Forest Ecology, Fire Ecology and Management, Natural Resource Sampling, Integrated Natural Resource Management, Forest Conservation and People, Urban and Urbanizing Forest Management, Critical Thinking, Global Energy Issues

Extension Program:
As the Extension Coordinator for the SFRC, I work with our faculty and staff to ensure we provide programming that is relevant to our stakeholders in Florida and to the broader global community. The researchers at the School of Forest Resources and Conservation are continually deepening our scientific understanding and it is our responsibility to make it available using traditional and innovative means of delivery. As an Extension Specialist I work statewide and on forestry issues that cross the wildland – urban continuum.

Major Extension Programs I serve as the Principle Investigator or Partner:

Florida Forest Stewardship Program: This program provides educational programing to private forest landowners statewide. Our programs are designed to provide the tools and knowledge to our clients so that they can sustainably manage their lands for a wide range of objectives: timber, wildlife habitat, ecosystem services, and aesthetics. We also publish the quarterly newsletter, Florida Land Steward. Chris Demers is the Coordinator of the program.

Urban and Urbanizing Forest Management: This program provides educational programming and technology transfer to urban forestry professionals, government (state, county, local) officials, and citizens of Florida statewide. We provide inventory tools and management systems to build capacity for people, agencies and organizations interested in trees, woodlands and forests so that they can work together to resolve conflicts, respond to natural disasters and build effective partnerships as our population increases and urban areas expand. We are engaged in long-term urban forest monitoring projects in the Tampa Bay Watershed and Gainesville to learn how urbanization is changing forest structure, composition and the ecosystem services they provide. I work in partnership with Rob Northrop (Urban Forestry Extension Agent), Dr. Andrew Koeser (UF Arboriculture), Dr. Wayne Zipperer (USDA, Urban Forest Ecologist) and Dr.Shawn Landry (USF, Urban Ecology/Geography)

Kids in the Woods (KIW): Started in 2012, this program has been delivering scientifically rigorous modules to elementary and middle school students using outdoor education pedagogical approaches. The KIW program at Westwood is a partnership with UF SFRC, USDA Forest Service, Alachua County Schools and the City of Gainesville to provide 3 week long modules to all the students enrolled in 6th grade (~350/yr). The modules include a bird study, a creek study and a tree benefits study, all focused on urban forest and engaging students directly in learning in forested park walking distance from the schools. The Elementary School programs are 1 day programs for 4th and 5th grade students and are designed to teach students about science and natural resources in an outdoor setting. Camp Kids in the Woods at Austin Cary is a 5-day summer day camp where kids are engaged in learning about forestry, wildlife and Florida’s ecosystems. Molly Disabb is the Coordinator of this program.

Invasive Species: This program helps to coordinate invasive species management across the state through the Florida Invasive Species Partnership (FISP) and working with the CISMA’s. This program also helps coordinate the efforts of the UF IFAS Invasive Species Council. The council brings together researchers throughout IFAS so that we can effectively deliver extension programming to County Extension Agents and professionals working throughout the state. Emily Bell is the Coordinator of this program.

Austin Cary Forest: This 2600-acre working forest supports the teaching, research and extension programs for the SFRC. The forest is managed to provide opportunities to have examples of a wide range of silvicultural systems (highly intensive to extensive management) to maximize educational opportunities. The forest host Extension events throughout the year and in 2019 we started our largest outreach program Fire Festival where we partner with Federal, State, County, City agencies and NGO’s for a 1-day event that includes prescribed fires demonstrations. Camp Kids in the Woods at Austin Cary is a 5-day summer day camp where kids are engaged in learning about forestry, wildlife and Florida’s ecosystems.. Scott Sager is the ACF Forester.

Other Extension programs I partner with:
Natural Areas Training Academy: I teach a 3-day course on Site Assessment and Management and I serve on the advisory board.
ProForest: I serve on the advisory board and partner on training program delivery

Research Program:
I work with my students to develop research that supports my Teaching and Extension programs. Broadly speaking my research addresses sustainable forest management at all scales and across the urban to rural gradient.

Recent Publications:

Lagrosa, J., Andreu, M., Zipperer, W., 2020. Estimates of above-ground tree carbon after projected land-use and land cover change in a subtropical urban watershed. Urban Ecosystems.

Lagrosa, J., Andreu, M., Friedman, M., Zipperer, W., Northrop, R., (2020). Effect of legacy on hydric forest structure in a subtropical urban watershed. Urban Ecosystems.

Hilbert, D., North, E., Hauer, R, Koeser, A., McLean, D., Northrop, R., Andreu, M., Parbs, S., (2020). Predicting trunk flare diameter to prevent tree damage to infrastructure. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126645

Mazyck, M., Andreu, M., Hermansen-Baez, A., Miller, D., (2020). The Impact of Outdoor Science Instruction on Middle School Students’ Understanding of the Science Process. Florida Scientist

Hilbert, D., Koeser, A., Roman, L., Hamiliton, K., Landry, S., Hauer, R., Campanella, H., McLean, D., Andreu, M., Perez, H. (2019). Development practices and ordinances predict inter-city variation in Florida urban tree coverage Landscape and Urban Planning. 190: 103603 13pp.

Mills, D., Bohlman, S., Putz, F., Andreu, M. (2019). Liberation of future crop trees from lianas in Belize: completeness, costs, and timber-yield benefits. Forest Ecology and Management. 439(2019): 97-104.

Lagrosa, J., Zipperer, W., Andreu, M. (2018). Projecting land-use cover change in a subtropical urban watershed. Urban Science 2(11) doi: 10.3390/urbandsci2010011 23 pp.

Roberts, J., Andreu, M., Inglett, K., Cohen, M., Zipperer, W., (2018). Denitrification potential in urban riparian zones throughout Tampa, FL. Florida Scientist. 81(2-3): 80-95.

Stone, D., Andreu, M., (2017). Direct application of invasive plant species prioritization: the spatial invasive infestation and priority analysis model. Ecological Restoration. 35(3).255-265.

Anderson, J., Heard, D., Andreu, M., Hostetler, M., Johnson, S., (2017). Winter home range and habitat selection of a Rhesus Macaques group (Macaca mulatta) at Silver Springs State Park, Florida Scientist 80(4): 159-164

Wilcox, E., Giuliano, W., Watine, L., Mills, D., Andreu, M., (2017). Forest structure and composition effects on bats in a tropical evergreen forest. Forests 8(9) 317

Friedl, S., Ober, H., Stein, T., Andreu, M., (2015). Modernizing training options for natural areas managers. Journal of Extension 53(5) 10 pages

Friedman, M., Andreu, M., Zipperer, W., Northrop, R., Abd-Elrahman, A., (2015). Species composition of forested natural communities near freshwater hydrologic features in an urbanizing watershed of West Central Florida. Florida Scientist 78(3) 111-129

Graduate Students: A list of current and former students supervised.