Jack Putz - University of Florida Department of Botany

Department of Botany
PO Box 118526
Gainesville FL 32611
Phone: (352) 392-1175
Fax: (352) 392-3993
Email:

Biography

Jack is a forest ecologist and silviculturalist with deep botanical roots. His goal is to use research to help conserve forests both in the tropics and in Florida. His principal tropical study sites are currently in Bolivia and Sabah, Malaysia. He works on fire, logging, and other forest uses and abuses. His collaborators include economists, anthropologists, political scientists, and forest engineers. Frustrated by the apparent lack of impact of his scientific publications on the ways forests are treated, he is increasingly focussing on silvicultural interventions for which there are economic incentives. In particular, he and some of his students conduct research that is intended to provide a sound ecological basis for forest product certification and forest-based carbon offsets. Other students working out of his laboratory conduct research on allied aspects of applied ecology including exotic invasive species, root competition, tree biomechanics, and non-timber forest products. Jack is affiliated with the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), The Forest Management Trust, Tropical Forest Foundation, and Wildlife Conservation Society.

Academic Positions

Professor, Department of Botany, University of Florida, 1992-present

Prince Bernhard Professor of International Conservation, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 2005-2010
David L. Williams Term Professor, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida, 1996-1997
Senior Associate, Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)
Adjunct Professor, Department of Forestry and Center for Latin American Studies, University of Florida
Courtesy Professor, Florida State University (1995-1998); University of Missouri at St. Louis (1994-1998)
External Examiner: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Sweden; 1996, 2006); York University (Canada; 1991); Wageningen University (The Netherlands; 2003, 2005); Utrecht University (The Netherlands; 2004); Aarhus University (Denmark; 2000); Institute Botanique (France; 1989)

Associate Professor, Department of Botany, University of Florida, 1987-1992

President, Association for Tropical Biology, 1996
SGS - Silviconsult, Carbon Offset Advisory Board, 1998 - present
Visiting Researcher, Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Zimbabwe, 1998-1999
Southeast Forest Management Trust, Executive Board, 1996 - present
IUCN Species Survival Commission, 1994 - 1998
Tropical Conservation and Development Program Executive Committee, University of Florida, 1991-present
Tropical Forest Foundation, Permanent Review Committee, 1993
Tropical Forest Management Trust, Executive Board, 1992-present
Florida Defenders of the Environment Advisory Board, 1991-present
SmartWood Program Advisory Board, Rainforest Alliance, 1991-present
Alachua Conservation Trust, Board of Advisors, 1989-1994
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Visiting Professor, 1994
Forest Research Centre, Sabah Forest Department, Malaysia, Visiting Scientist, 1992-1993
Research Consultant, U.S. Agency for International Development:
Indonesia, Center for Tropical Conservation, Duke University, 1991-1992; Bolivia, 1994-1996

Research Interests / Major Research Achievements:

My research concerns forest ecology, both in the tropics and in the north temperate zone. I hold joint appointments with the Department of Forestry and Center for Latin American studies on the U.F. campus as well as with the Center for International Forestry (CIFOR) in Indonesia. Research projects in which I have been involved include a wide range of topics from the ethnobotany of palms and the natural history of woody vines to silvicultural management of tropical forests. Research techniques employed include those of physiological ecology, ecological anatomy, biomechanics, population biology, and silviculture. My primary interest is in forest community ecology; the patterns and processes of regeneration in natural and silviculturally managed forests intrigue me. I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to conduct research on community dynamics and forest management in both Asia and Latin America, in deserts and rain forests, and from mangroves up to montane elfin forests.

Present Research

Carbon offsetting through reduced impact logging.

Compatibility of natural forest management for timber and non-timber forest products.

Natural forest management in Bolivia, Southeast Asia, and Florida.

Mechanical dependence of sand pine (Pinus clausa) seedlings on re-sprouted hardwoods and palms.

Tree damage and recovery in logging areas and natural forests.

Restoration ecology, exotic species biology and control, and fire ecology.

Ecology and management of Miombo woodlands.

Courses Taught:

Introductory Ecology

Introductory Botany

Ecosystems of the Tropics

Ecosystems of Florida

Advanced Ecology

Tropical Forestry

History of Ecology

International Forestry

Field Courses on Tropical Ecology and Silviculture International Forest Policies in Bolivia, Costa Rica, Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Membership in Professional Organizations:

Grants received

U.S. Forest Service International Programs Research Grant, 2000-2001. Tropical Forest Management and Conservation in Bolivia. $200,000.

U.S. Forest Service International Programs Research Contract, 1999-2000. Bibliography on Natural Forest Management in the Tropics (with emphasis on logging). $7,000.

U.S. Forest Service International Programs Research Contract, 2000. Workshop on Modeling the Economics of Reduced-Impact Logging in the Tropics. $27,000.

Robert B. Ragland Environmental Fellowship (for support of U.F. graduate students), 1999-2000. $8,023.

Wildlife Conservation Society Research Grant, 2000. Tropical Forest Conservation. $20,698.

The Compton Foundation, Inc., 1996-2000. Grants for Graduate Students in Tropical Conservation. $20,000 per year.

U.S. Forest Service Research Grant, 1995-1996. Mangrove Forest Ecology and Silviculture in Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia. $4,000.

Selected Publications

Refereed Publications (selected, last 5 years)

Spector, T. and F. E. Putz. Biomechanical plasticity facilitates invasion by Brazilian pepper Schinus terebinthifolius . Biological Invasions (in press).

Romero, C., F.E. Putz, and K. Kitajima. Light, mist, and pendant epiphytes in a tropical montane oak forest. Biotropica (in press).

Spector, T. and F.E. Putz. Crown retreat of open-grown live oak ( Quercus virginiana ) due to canopy encroachment. Forest Ecology and Management (in press).

Varner, J.M III, D. R. Gordon, F.E. Putz, and J. K. Hiers. Restoring fire to long-unburned Pinus palustris ecosystems: Novel fire effects and consequences for long-unburned ecosystems. Restoration Ecology (in press).

Gerwing, J.J., S.A. Schnitzer, R. J. Burnham, F. Bongers, J. Chave, S.J. DeWalt, C.E.N. Ewango, R. Foster, M. Martinez-Ramos, M. Parren, N. Parthasarthy, D.R. Pérez-Salicrup, F.E. Putz, and D.W. Thomas. Censusing lianas. Biotropica (in press).

Putz, F.E., C. D. Canham, and S. Ollinger. Root foraging efficiencies of trees and shrubs. Journal of Ecology (in review).

Kennard, D.K. and F.E. Putz. 2005. Effects of fire intensity on early tree regeneration in a Bolivian dry deciduous forest. New Forests 30: 1-20.

Alvira, D., F.E. Putz, and T.S. Fredericksen. 2004. Liana loads and post-logging liana densities after liana cutting in a lowland forest in Bolivia. Forest Ecology and Management 190: 73-86.

Grauel, W. and F.E. Putz. 2004. Lianas and Prioria copaifera (cativo) forest management in the Darien of Panama. Forest Ecology and Management 190: 99-108.

Zarin, D.J., K.A. Kainer, F.E. Putz, M. Schnink, and S. K. Jacobson. 2003. Integrated graduate education and research in neotropical working forests. Journal of Forestry 101: 31-37.

Putz, F.E. 2003. Are rednecks the unsung heroes of ecosystem management? WildEarth 13: 10-14.

Templeton, M. and F.E. Putz. 2003. Crown encroachment on southern live oaks in suburban settings: tree status and homeowner concerns. Journal of Arboriculture 29: 337-341.

Fredericksen, T.S. and F.E. Putz. 2003. Silvicultural intensification for tropical forest conservation. Biodiversity and Conservation 12: 1445-1453.

Fredericksen, T.S., F.E. Putz, P. Pattie, W. Pariona, and M. Peña-Claros. 2003. Tropical forestry in Bolivia: The next steps from planned logging towards sustainable forest management. Journal of Forestry 101:37-40.

Pinzon, Z., K. Ewel, and F.E. Putz. 2003. Gap formation and forest regeneration in a Micronesian mangrove forest. Journal of Tropical Ecology 19: 143-153.

Pearce, D., F.E. Putz, and J. Vanclay. 2002. Sustainable forestry: panacea or pipedream? Forest Ecology and Management 172: 229-247.

Gould, K.A., T.S. Fredericksen, F. Morales, D. Kennard, F.E. Putz, B. Mostacedo, and M. Toledo. 2002. Post-fire tree regeneration in lowland Bolivia: implications for fire-management. Forest Ecology and Management 165: 225-234.

Heuberger, K.A. and F.E. Putz. 2003. Fire in the suburbs: ecological impacts of prescribed fire in small remnants of longleaf pine sandhill. Restoration Ecology 11:72-81.

Kennard, DK., K. Gould, F.E. Putz, T.S. Fredericksen, and F. Morales. 2002. Effect of disturbance intensity on regeneration on mechanisms in a tropical dry forest. Forest Ecology and Management 162: 197-208.

Anderson, P.J. and F. E. Putz. 2002. Harvesting and conservation: are both possible for the palm, Iriartea deltoidea ? Forest Ecology and Management 170: 271-283.

Perez-Salicrup, D.R., I. Olmsted, G. Caballe, and F.E. Putz. 2001 The importance of studying lianas for understanding, managing, and conserving tropical forests. Biotropica 15: 7-20

Perez-Salicrup, D., V. Sork, and F.E. Putz. 2001 Lianas and trees in a liana forest in Amazonian Bolivia. Biotropica 33:34-47.

Putz, F.E., L.K. Sirot, and M.A. Pinard. 2001. Tropical forest management and wildlife: silvicultural effects on forest structure, fruit production, and locomotion of non-volant arboreal animals. In , R. Fimbel, A. Grajal, and J. Robinson (editors), The Cutting Edge: Conserving Wildlife in Managed Tropical Forests. Columbia University Press, New York.

Pérez-Salicrup, D., A. Claros, R. Guzmán, J.C. Licona, F. Ledezma, M.A. Pinard, and F.E. Putz. 2001 Cost and efficiency of cutting lianas in a lowland liana forest in Bolivia. Biotropica 33: 324-329.

Mason, D.J. and F.E. Putz. 2001. Reducing the impacts of tropical foresting on wildlife. In , R. Fimbel, A. Grajal, and J. Robinson (editors), The Cutting Edge: Conserving Wildlife in Managed Tropical Forests. Columbia, University Press, New York.

Putz, F.E., G.M. Blate, K.H. Redford, R. Fimbel, and J.G. Robinson . 2001. Biodiversity conservation in the context of tropical forest management. Conservation Biology 15:7-20.

Putz, F.E. and C. Romero. 2001. Biologists and timber certification. Conservation Biology 15:1-2.

Putz, F.E. 2000. The economics of homegrown forestry. Ecological Economics 32:9-14.

Putz, F.E. 2000. Some roles of North American ecologists in land-use planning in the tropics. Ecological Applications 10:676-679.

Putz, F.E., D.P. Dykstra, and R. Heinrich. 2000. Why poor logging practices persist in the tropics. Conservation Biology 14:951-956.

Pinard, M.A., F.E. Putz, and J. Tay. 2000. Lessons learned from the implementation of reduced-impact logging in hilly terrain in Sabah, Malaysia. International Forestry Review 2:33-39.

Non-Referred Publications (selected, last 5 years)

Pinard, M.A., M.R. Guariguata, F.E. Putz, and D. Pérez-Salicrup. 2006. Managing natural tropical forests for timber: Experiences, challenges, and opportunities. Pages 283-290 in, M.J. Groom, G.K. Meffe, and C.R. Carroll, Principles of Conservation Biology. Sinauer, Massachusetts.

Putz, F.E. 2005. Green hell to red desert to black earth. Conservation Biology 19: 978-979.

Justice, C., D. Wilkie, J. Brunner, and F.E. Putz. 2005. Climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa: Assumptions, realities and future investments. Pages 172-181 in, Pak Sum Low, editor. Climate Change and Africa. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Putz, F.E. 2004. Are you a logging advocate or a conservationist? Pages 15-30 in, D. Zarin, F.E. Putz, J. Alavalapati, and M. Schmink, editors. Working Forests in the Tropics. Columbia University Press, New York.

Putz, F. E., M.A. Pinard, T.S. Fredericksen, and M. Peña-Claros. 2004. Forest science and the BOLFOR experience: lessons learned about natural forest management in Bolivia. Pages 64-96 in, D. Zarin, F.E. Putz, J. Alavalapati, editors. Working Forests in the Tropics. Columbia University Press, New York.

Zarin, D., J. Alavalapati, F.E. Putz, and M. Schmink,editors. 2004. Working Forests in the Tropics. Columbia University Press, NY.

Putz, F.E. 2004. Who will miss hemlocks? A plea to save some representative stands. Massachusetts Wildlife. 54: 31-33.

Putz, F.E. 2004. Preface. Illegal Logging in the Tropics: Ecology, Economics and Politics of Resource Misuse. Special Issue of the Journal of Sustainable Forestry 19. Also published in Ravenel, R.M., Granoff, I.M.E., and Magee, C.A. (eds) 2004. Illegal Logging in the Tropics Strategies for Cutting Crime. The Haworth Press.

Applegate, G., F.E. Putz, and L. Snook. 2004. Who pays and who benefits from improved timber harvesting practices in the tropics? Lessons learned and information gaps. CIFOR, Bogor, Indonesia, 35 p. ISBN 979-3361-42-5.

Putz, F.E. 2004. Tropical silviculture. Pages 1039-1044 in, Burley, J., J. Evans, and J. Youngquist, editors, Encyclopedia of Forest Sciences, Elsevier Science, London, U.K.

Perez-Salicrup, D., S. Schnitzer, and F.E. Putz, editors. 2004. Ecology and Management of Lianas. Forest Ecology and Management Special Issue 190.

Perez-Salicrup, D., S. Schnitzer, and F.E. Putz. 2004. Community ecology and management of lianas. Forest Ecology and Management 190: 1-2.

Putz, F.E. 2003. Commentary. Pages 293-295 in C. Slater, editor, In Search of the Rain Forest. Duke University Press, Durham, NC.

Putz, F.E. 2003. Company-Community Partnerships: From Raw Deals to Mutual Gains? Conservation Biology 17: 645-646.

Putz, F.E. 2002. Gone but not forgotten: Euell Theophilus Gibbons, 1911-1975. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 83: 260.

Putz, F.E. 2002. Indigenous people and fire. Journal of Forestry 100: 46.

Blate, G.M., F.E. Putz, and J.C. Zweede. 2001. Progress towards RIL adoption in Brazil and Bolivia: driving forces and implementation successes. Pages 217-238 in , Proceedings for the International Conference on the Application of Reduced Impact Logging to Advance Sustainable Forest Management. The Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission, Bangkok, Thailand. [also published in ITTO Update]

Putz, F.E., K.H. Redford, J.G. Robinson, R. Fimbel, and G. Blate. 2000. Biodiversity conservation in the context of tropical forest management. Biodiversity Studies, The World Bank. [available at: http://worldbank.org/biodiversity]

Jack Putz, Ph.D.

Professor of Botany