Research Overview

Mikaela Schmitt-Harsh and her lab group focus on research examining the social-ecological dynamics of urban forestry and agroforestry systems. Much of this research stems from a desire to understand the value of trees (ecological, social, and economic) and how trees can be managed for social gain and for improved resiliency of ecosystems. We draw on insights from urban forestry and arboriculture, landscape ecology, forest ecology, and research on the commons, institutions, and collective action to improve our understanding of relationships between people, policy, built form, and the physical environment in intensively human-managed landscapes. A diverse set of tools and methodologies is employed that often includes GIS, remote sensing, surveys, ecological sampling, modeling, and statistical analyses.