UCF Land Management

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Interactive Map

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Site Use
Teaching and research conducted within the University of Central Florida’s natural lands is encouraged. Through site use permits, the protection of biological resources on campus is accomplished. Permits allow us to minimize conflicts between users, to prevent unsuitable uses, and to coordinate projects with management activities. In addition, as part of the stewardship of the natural areas on campus, teaching and research activities utilizing the campus are documented through the site use permits. Anyone wanting to use the campus natural areas for teaching or research is asked to fill out the appropriate form below and submit it, via email, as soon as possible.

Please review the general use rules & permitting process and fill out the appropriate Site Use Application (see links below). Processing time usually takes between 2-3 weeks, but can extend past this time frame for research and education projects requesting to use a “prohibited area”. Therefore, it is best to fill out an application as early as possible to allow ample processing time. Please e-mail us to submit questions or comments.

Applications:
Research and Course Site Use Application
General Site Use Application

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Species Conservation & Management
As part of a series of ongoing class assignments for a biology graduate course, Landscape Ecology (PCB 5328C), digitized the UCF natural from aerial photographs from 1939, 1967, 1972, 1984, 1994, and 1999. The data from the 1999 map showed 45% of the main 1,415-acre part of the UCF campus (not including the MacKay Tract or eastern parcel) to consist of natural areas. Over half (54.7%) of this area was classified as wetlands (e.g., lakes, pond pine and cypress dominated communities); the remaining area was uplands (e.g., scrub, sandhill, and pine flatwoods communities).

Since then, multiple natural areas surveys were conducted on campus. The first was conducted from September 2001 to May 2002 and was resurveyed from June through August 2003. The Land Management team has surveyed all the green space on campus semi-annually since 2005. The surveys focused on determining the status, and location (if possible) of endangered, threatened, and invasive exotic species. Gopher tortoises were also included. As a result of the 2001-2002 study, four endangered and seven threatened plant species were identified and 347 plants species were recorded on campus. The 2005-2009 listed species surveys resulted in 14 listed plant species, one mammal species, three reptilian species, and 11 bird species have been recorded and mapped on campus.

Management techniques used support the increase in biodiversity across campus, and surveys are conducted semi-annually to show the success and/or failure of each technique.

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Restoration
The goal of The University of Central Florida’s Restoration Plan is to conserve, appropriately use, and protect native vegetative communities and wildlife habitats. Through the Land Management Program, the University continues to coordinate with state and regional environmental agencies, such as SJRWMD (SJRWMD), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and the Division of Forestry (DOF) to appropriately manage all of the campus natural lands and specifically designated conservation areas. To achieve this goal, the Land Management Program uses several techniques, such as prescribed burns and mechanical treatments, to reduce overgrown shrubby species and promote a healthy herbaceous understory in the natural lands on campus.

UCF is currently implementing a restoration plan for the conservation easement within the Arboretum created by the University with assistance from SJRWMD. This plan details the University’s efforts to reestablish the historic habitat of wet and mesic flatwoods in the 7.85 acre portion of the Arboretum west of Gemini Blvd. Additionally, unused firebreaks and trails in the natural lands are being restored to reduce habitat fragmentation. Habitat fragmentation can be caused by natural disasters or it can be a human induced problem. Hurricanes and tornados can drastically affect ecosystem homogeneity with high force winds and rain. Humans can also be destructive by using all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in restricted areas, hiking outside designated areas, or developing in surrounding areas. To reduce fragmentation, unwanted trails and firebreaks are being blocked off and restored by seeding and planting appropriate native flora species.

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Arboretum
The mission of the Arboretum is to provide UCF students, faculty, staff, and the greater community of Central Florida a comprehensive environmental and outdoor living laboratory for education, research, recreation, and human interaction with ecosystem functions. Admission is free for recreational areas, and interpretive programs for school and organizational groups are offered.

With hundreds of species of animal and plant life, the 82-acre Arboretum stands as a longstanding symbol of UCF's dedication to educating students and the community about nature, while protecting our environment. The Arboretum consists of three programs: natural lands, where recreational and learning opportunities exists, restoration lands, where 8 acres of the Arboretum are being converted to historic habitat conditions, and demonstration landscapes, where different landscape themes are demonstrated throughout the campus.

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Wetlands
The United States Department of Environmental Protection defines wetlands as:
"...lands where saturation with water is the dominant factor determining the nature of soil development and the types of plant and animal communities living in the soil and on its surface (Cowardin, December 1979). Wetlands vary widely because of regional and local differences in soils, topography, climate, hydrology, water chemistry, vegetation, and other factors, including human disturbance."
The following are a few examples of the types of wetlands that can be found on UCF's campus:
1. Cypress domes occur in regions of depression usually within a flatwoods matrix and are dominated by two species - the bald cypress and the pond cypress. The term, “cypress dome” or cypress head refers to the phenomenon of larger cypress trees growing in the middle of the dome, with trees getting get progressively smaller as they go out from the center. A large number of epiphytes, plants which grow on the tree, but do not feed off of the tree are also found near or in cypress domes - some examples include bromeliads, orchids, and ferns.
2. Ephemeral Wetlands can hold water at certain times and at other times be completely dry. They are commonly known as upland temporary ponds and can be found throughout campus depending on seasonal rainfall.
3. Seepage Wetlands, such as the pond pine community located on campus, are moist during most of the year. This type of community does not naturally burn as often as an upland system such as pine flatwoods. The pond pine community on the UCF campus is an important component of UCF’s stormwater management, as it helps to treat water leaving the campus and making its journey through the campus green space into the Little Econ River and eventually into the St. John’s River.
4. Freshwater Marshes found on the UCF campus include both basin and depression marshes. These communities provide critical habitat for many plant and animal species, specifically many species of threatened and endangered wading birds. Additionally, the Florida Sand Hill Crane, a threatened avian species found at UCF can regularly be seen in the marshes throughout campus.

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Invasive species

Invasive species are increasing across the Central Florida region, altering the soil composition, food-web, native plant and animal community, and ultimately, an area’s ecological balance. Many invasive species have proven extremely difficult or impossible to eradicate and costly to control once established. Thus, stringent measures to avoid unwanted species are justified both ecologically and economically. The United States Department of Agriculture Invasive Species Information Center defines invasive species as plant, animal, insect or microbial organisms that are “1) non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and 2) whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.” Research has shown that invasive species negatively affect over half of the species listed as endangered or threatened and that around $100 billion is spent every year controlling them.

The University has 47 known species of exotic plants on site, of which 23 species are listed as Category I, 10 species as Category II, and the remaining are not categorized by Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. Existence of these species in UCF's natural areas greatly interferes with management goals of the University.

In an effort to control these unwanted species, the University of Central Florida has joined forces with state & federal agencies, private landowners, and non-profit organizations to create the Central Florida Invasive Species Working Group (CFISWG). The CFISWG's mission is to create a partnership of federal, state, and local government agencies, individuals, and various interested groups, that develop resources, educate, and share information to manage invasive species in a specified area. Information on free training dates, partners, control methods, species identification, and projects can be found by visiting http://www.floridainvasives.org/Central/.

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Recreation
UCF encourages visitors to hike and bike the four trails, play the disc-golf course, picnic in the Oak Hammock or relax in the Nature Pavilion, all located on campus. The UCF Natural Lands are open from sunrise to sunset every day. Please enjoy these beautiful areas and we take nothing but photos and leave nothing but footprints.

Trails
The four trails located in the Natural Areas total three miles and take our visitors through four unique Florida habitats. The Cypress Trail (0.71 miles) encircles a magnificent cypress dome, while adjacent to that the Transition Trail (0.32 miles) winds through the beautiful Oak Hammock, a great place to meet with friends or quietly study. The Fire Loop (0.81 miles) and the Wildflower Loop (1.17 miles) guide our visitors through two different types of flatwoods, pine and scrubby, where both plants and animals can be observed regularly in their natural environments.

Disc Golf
The UCF disc golf course offers a fun and educational experience for serious and recreational players. Each tee has a learning station, including a map of the course and facts about the local environment. The black-and-gold disc-golf mats are made from recycled tires, a subtle example of UCF’s commitment to sustainability. Please protect the natural areas by throwing away trash in the bins provided throughout the course and respecting wildlife.

Oak Hammock
UCF’s tranquil Oak Hammock located in the Natural Area is a great place to meet with friends to study or just quietly relax and read a book. The enormous oak trees in this habitat provide a unique microclimate with shade and a pleasant, cool environment to picnic or just enjoy being outside. Yoga classes are offered in the Oak Hammock periodically during the Fall and Spring semesters.

Please visit Recreation and Wellness' website for information on nature yoga classes offered in the Oak Hammock.

The Nature Pavilion
The nature pavilion (called "natural resources pavilion” on the UCF map) accents the south entrance to the 40 acre Natural Areas, and provides information about recreational opportunities in the green space on campus. The pavilion is also open to UCF employees, students and the public sunrise to sunset. The building was made from recycled materials and its surface edges are pervious concrete, which means storm-water drains through it, instead of resting on top of it. The pavilion is available to rent throughout the football season for Gold Zone donors. To request this space, please e-mail us.

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Current Projects
The UCF land management team works closely with the academic departments to support undergraduate and graduate research on campus.

Current field projects include:
* Restoration of Arboretum
* Reduction of fragmentation
* Wildlife/species identification and surveys
* Mapping (using GPS)
* Invasive and exotic plant control & education
* Herpetological surveys
* Ecological/habitat monitoring
* Invertebrate monitoring & sampling (conducted by the UCF Bug Closet)
* Stormwater monitoring
* Development of wildland-urban management techniques

Current research projects include:
* Effects of prescribed burning on vegetation structure and succession
* Effects of fuel load on vegetation response to prescribed fire (conducted by Restoration Ecology & System Sustainability classes)
* Hydrology of urban wetland fragments (conducted by land management crew)
* Wildlife Crossing Project (managed by Dr. Reed Noss, Biology Department)

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Land Conservation & Management
UCF's land management program focuses on the preservation of biodiversity within Florida's unique habitats, promotion of responsible land use, and facilitation of intellectual opportunities for students, visitors, and faculty. (i.e. environmental education, species interactions). The green space managed on campus are made up of over 320 acres of natural uplands and wetland habitats preserved in perpetual conservation easements to the St. Johns River Water Management District, and over 200 additional acres of natural areas on campus that have verbal commitments for long-term preservation, such as the arboretum and smaller isolated wetland areas. In addition, the campus contains an extensive network of stormwater ponds. These areas, in combination with the large area occupied by wetlands that are, for the most part, undevelopable, constitute a large percentage of the land occupied by the UCF campus.

The Conservation Section of the University's Master Plan outlines the goals, objectives, and policies that demonstrate the commitment to the protection of the University's environmentally significant lands.

Management techniques used on campus natural lands include prescribed fire, invasive species management, restoration, and species conservation & management. Research, particularly focused on wildland-urban interface management, is actively conducted in all management units, which is used to continuously develop better land management techniques.

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Prescribed Fires

Prescribed burn planned for Tuesday, October 20th in the Northwest side of campus. The potential unit(s) to be burned are Unit 2, Unit 3 and Unit 4A (click here to view map).

Fire creates and maintains plant and animal habitats throughout the United States, and many ecosystems would not exist in the absence of fire. Fire creates change, which is biologically necessary to maintain healthy ecosystems. For example, prescribed burns help fire-dependent trees, such as long-leaf pines, drop their cones which open with intense fire. Without fire, these trees will not grow and reproduce. Fire also allows native grasses to grow by promoting seeding and reducing the density of overgrown vegetation (such as saw palmetto). These grasses provide food for many animals, and the resulting open spaces enable the threatened gopher tortoise to easily move through the habitat and build burrows, which they share with other species. Varying fire timing, frequency and intensity produces different resource responses that can return the habitat to its historical, healthy state.

In addition to using fire as a management tool, prescribed burns can also reduce heavy fuel loads, thus reducing the threat of wildfire. Wildfires occur in Florida's natural lands yearly, and while they are typically controlled quickly near residential areas, it is important to lower the vegetative density, through prescribed burns, to reduce the chance of wildfires. Prescribed burns remove the dead, decaying, or low-lying plants on the forest floor, thus limiting the spread and increasing the control of wildfires. Please visit the Division of Forestry to learn more about wildfires and prescribed burns in Florida.

As a resource management and wildfire suppression tool, The University of Central Florida land management team uses prescribed burns to control excessive fuel loads (i.e, dense vegetation), while making the campus green spaces more ecologically healthy. UCF's Prescribed Fire Coordinator writes all burn prescriptions, which are completed for each management unit and lists the specific conditions needed to meet the burn goals and objectives (including weather conditions, equipment needed, crew needed, site maps and other pertinent information to have a safe, successful prescribed fire). These conditions typically dictate the effects of the prescribed fire. During the prescribed burn, UCF staff, including the Prescribed Fire Coordinator and UCF Burn Boss, will be on the burn site monitoring the burn. All personnel involved in the fire have been trained and certified to participate in prescribed burns.

If you live near UCF, and are concerned about a burn, the best action to take is to visit our website and email the Prescribed Fire Coordinator (see 'About Us' for email contact). All questions and concerns will be answered as soon as possible, as we are interested in your input and want you to feel safe during our prescribed burns. Also, please keep in mind that it will be best to keep your children and pets inside while the burn is being conducted to ensure your family's health and safety.

Info: Interactive map

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Interactive Map by:
Rob Layton

Info: Web Design

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Web Design by:
Brian Painter

Info: Creative Commons

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License