Evidence for Landscape Architecture Solutions to the Climate and Biodiversity Crises

National Competitive Research Grants from The ASLA Fund

ASLA 2021 Professional General Design Honor Award. Duke University Water Reclamation Pond. Durham, North Carolina. Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects / Mark Hough

Overview

The ASLA Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization, has released new peer-reviewed research on landscape architecture solutions to the climate and biodiversity crisis.

Landscape Architecture Solutions to Extreme Heat

Dr. Daniella Hirschfeld, ASLA, PhD, Assistant Professor of Climate Adaptation Planning in the Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Department, Utah State University

Landscape Architecture Solutions to Biodiversity Loss

Dr. Sohyun Park, ASLA, PhD, SITES AP, Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Connecticut

About the Research

The reviews aggregate the most relevant peer-reviewed evidence for landscape architecture and nature-based solutions that:

  • Increase the resilience of communities and natural systems to climate impacts
  • Reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration
  • Conserve and restore ecosystems and increase biodiversity
  • Improve water quality and management

Dr. Hirshfeld and Dr. Park examined research from a range of relevant disciplines, including scientific disciplines, and third-party verified data from projects led by academic and professional practitioners in landscape architecture or that involved significant contributions by them.

The goals of the research reviews are to:

  • Understand and summarize the current state of knowledge.
  • Synthesize the research literature and provide  insights, leveraging key data- and science-based evidence.
  • Create an accessible executive summary in plain language for policymakers, community advocates, and practicing landscape architects.

The research reviews will be used to advance research, advocacy, and communications goals with a range of audiences:

  • Federal, state, and local policy-makers and regulators
  • Allied professionals (planners, architects, engineers, ecologists)
  • Community leaders, advocates, and activists
  • Landscape architects
  • Academics and scientists in other disciplines, potential research partners
  • Potential donors
  • Landscape architecture clients
  • Landscape architecture students

Research Questions

Learn more about what research questions Dr. Park and Dr. Hirschfeld explored:

Research Questions: Extreme Heat

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Research Questions: Biodiversity Loss

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Research Process

The ASLA Fund announced the grant program at the 2023 Council for Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA) conference and also via its website. The grant research period ran from June 2023 to February 2024.

Proposals and all deliverables were reviewed by:

  • A panel of peer academics, including a representative from the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA) and Landscape Journal  
  • ASLA National Team
  • Academic, student, and practitioner members of the ASLA Climate Action Committee (CAC) Subcommittee on Leadership and Communications

Dr. Daniella Hirschfeld

Extreme Heat Grant Awardee

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Dr. Sohyun Park

Biodiversity Grant Awardee

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Selection and Review Panel for Extreme Heat Research Grant

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Selection and Review Panel for Biodiversity Loss Research Grant

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Knowledge Sharing

Republishing and Reprinting

Learn about republishing opportunities

Promotion

Learn how ASLA will disseminate the research

Acknowledgements

Thank you to the partners and advisors who contributed to this program

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Mission of ASLA and The ASLA Fund


ASLA: Empowering our members to design a sustainable and equitable world through landscape architecture.

The ASLA Fund: Investing in global, social, and environmental change through the art and science of landscape architecture.