Studying & Sunning in South Florida

Though many Harvard students journey to Florida for spring break, only a select few spend their time learning the native flora, sampling lakes and watching out for alligators.

The nine students of Environmental Science and Public Policy (ESPP) 90c, a junior tutorial in ecology and land-use planning taught by Professor of Advanced Environmental Studies in the Field of Landscape Ecology Richard T. Forman, did all that and more during their spring break trip to Highlands County, Florida. At Archbold Biological Station, an ecological research facility in a county located about two hours south of Orlando, the students spent a week learning about the natural resources of the region, researching local culture and integrating spatial principles and ecological objectives into a comprehensive land-use plan for Highlands County.

The small town of Lake Placid, Florida, where Archbold is located, contains 27 lakes, and its main industries are citrus growing, ranching and the production of caladium flowers, a flower almost exclusive to the region. It is a town where art along the local supermarket wall can rivet visiting students' attention. The mural, which depicts a scene of cattle ranching, emits a loud mooing noise accompanied by sounds of stampeding cattle every few minutes.

After learning about local culture and industry during the first few days of their trip, ESPP 90c students on the fifth day began the assignment that was the trip's centerpiece. They would create a land-use plan for Highlands County that integrated ecological and social objectives for the area. Divided into three teams of three students each to tackle the project, groups quickly split up to gather more information about the town and its surroundings. Daniel A. Montilla '99 and K. Valentine Cadieux '98 spent three hours in the local supermarket, talking to area residents about their views on ecology and the local community. Mary M. Berlik '99 and Thomas Y. Kuo '99 interviewed the head of the Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce to learn about the economy, and special student Amina Ismail and teaching fellow Lauren Alexander posed as prospective homebuyers to ask local realtors about home prices and prime housing lot locations.

University of Florida Professor Mark Brenner joined the class for the remainder of the project. An expert on limnology and paleoecology, Brenner has joined ESPP students at Archbold for several years. Brenner writes in an e-mail that the planning exercise "requires students to make a rapid assessment of issues in Highlands County and [to] develop a future land-use plan based on considerations of ecological principles, economic realities, a knowledge of stakeholder interests (e.g. retirees, citrus agriculture, ranchers, etc.) and social issues."

He writes, "I am always impressed at the fresh insights that Harvard students bring to the task."

Forman adds, "These students are the living essence of why I became a teacher. They're sponges for the science. In fact, they are aching to apply it. Over years, I publish articles and write books, but in only seven weeks, their syntheses and bizarre ideas are pushing both me and landscape ecology into new frontiers."

In their final forty-eight hours in Florida, the three teams worked furiously to complete their projects. On Thursday, March 26, the teams presented their plans to a panel, which included two representatives from Archbold Biological Station and the Highlands County Planner, Duane Niederman.

The three different groups represented three distinct approaches for addressing local ecological and social issues. One group designed a park for ecotourism and habitat preservation. The second clustered lakefront development along one lake, Lake Josephine, and encouraged development of housing in converted ranchlands. The remaining group took an integrated approach towards Lake Placid as an ecological community, planning multi-income housing and recreational areas, converting agricultural land uses and altering lake-use patterns.

The plans, well-received and critiqued by the panel of experts, represented a synthesis of the tutorial's focus on ecological objectives and spatial principles in regional planning. For many students, it was the first time in which they were able to apply scientific knowledge learned in ESPP to a practical situation.

Brenner says, "I think it goes without saying that the Archbold visit is an extraordinary experience for students in ecology and land-use planning.

Berlik agrees. "The trip took knowledge one step further by taking us out of the classroom and into civilization.

Forman expresses pride in the learning capacity of his students. "The world is going to pot," he said. "But a healthy dose of landscape ecology, especially in land-use planning and action at the town or county level, is the only serious major basis for optimism on the horizon."

Last week, ESPP 90c students also began a second planning project in Massachusetts, which will build on the expertise they have gained in Florida in balancing ecological and community objectives in a regional setting.