Barb Andreas Award

One of our OMLA founding members had the honor of induction into the ODNR Hall of Fame this summer. Their writeup of Barb’s contributions to Ohio says it better than I can, so here it is:

“Dr. Andreas has dedicated more than 40 years of her professional life to the preservation of Ohio’s natural lands. While focusing her research efforts on the distribution of mosses, Dr. Andreas also conducted plant inventories of public lands and contributed to the overall knowledge of the state’s flora and natural environment. She discovered several significant natural areas that later became state nature preserves, including Flat Iron Lake Bog and Gallagher Fen.

Alongside her work within Ohio’s public lands, Dr. Andreas’ research efforts were instrumental in developing the Floristic Quality Assessment Index, now used statewide and federally to assess a site’s biological quality. She currently serves on the board of the Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association and is a Fellow of the Ohio Academy of Science.

She is co-founder of the Ohio Moss and Lichen Association, was on the board of the Ohio chapter of the Nature Conservancy for 22 years and served several other notable botanical and conservation-related organizations. Additionally, she has been a leader in conservation at many higher education institutions, including Kent State where she received multiple awards for her work. Dr. Andreas’ conservation legacy includes the gift of her mentorship to numerous botany and biology students whom she inspired through her fascination for and commitment to the natural world.”

In addition to these more academic pursuits. I know Barb has also spent hours of backbreaking work pulling garlic mustard, stilt grass, surveying and treating hemlock wooly adelgid and other necessary maintenance at numerous natural areas. This is indeed a well-deserved award. Congratulations Barb!

-Ray Showman