An interview with Michael Andreu lead to this full length article, stated using Michael's own words.

When Dr. Michael Andreu started at University of Florida as Associate Professor in the School of Forest Resources with a part extension appointment, he was tasked with addressing issues of managing forests in a rapidly urbanizing environment. Many people do not think of forestry, when they think of Florida, however, northern Florida produces timber for traditional wood markets while central and southern Florida does not have access to those markets and therefore, trees and forests are valued differently. Therefore, assessing urban forests in South Florida meant using different metrics and standards to understand and communicate the value of their trees. Dr. Andreu, and his colleague Rob Northrup, Hilsborough county Extension Forester, who was also new, couldn’t find information on the composition, condition, degrees of change, etc. of urban forests. To solve that issue, they brought together people that had a stake in the issue and thus began a loose affiliation called the Tampa Bay Watershed Forest Working Group (TBWFWG). The mission of this group is to create a scientific framework for the ecological assessment and sustainable management of the Tampa Bay’s Watershed’s trees and forested ecosystems along the urban-wildland continuum. Interestingly enough, the first partner to provide money for this effort was the city of Tampa and other funds were put together to support it as well, including subsequent grant support from the EPA and NSF.  One of the biggest accomplishments is a comprehensive urban forest management plan for the city of Tampa (co-produced), which includes a set of criteria for monitoring and evaluating effectiveness of their management in meeting stated objectives.

 Dr. Andreu told us: 

“So to some this extension program doesn’t look like what most think of as an extension program.  However, through the process of building a Collaborative (TBWFWG) we have facilitated many opportunities for learning among all the participants (formally through workshops, written materials, presentations, informally by creating opportunities for decision makers, planners, state, county, municipal administrators, elected officials, interested citizens to exchange ideas and learn from each other.

 By developing a process to measure the change of the forests, being brokers of sound science, sharing the information with all involved, we have started a big conversation about the value of forests (ecosystem services) in a part of Florida that could previously only see them as areas that did not have value because timber markets were too far away.  This conversation is leading to real and significant change in the way Tampa is managing their forests and we hope this will occur throughout the TB watershed.”

 Additionally, this project can serve as a model for other projects. The south is increasingly urbanizing and managing our urban forests is becoming even more important for protecting our watersheds and other important environmental characteristics. Dr. Andreu and colleauges feel that they have demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach and hope to develop guidelines that will help others who are interested in initiating a similar program.