Annually, $7 trillion in global development financing flows to projects that deplete nature. We can think of this as nature-negative finance. This is approximately 140 times the amount invested in nature-based solutions each year.The ASLA Fund has released a new brief that explains how we can turn this around. It outlines the case for increasing investment in landscape architecture and nature-based solutions.The brief was developed by Dr. Jennifer Egan, PhD, PG, program manager, University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center (EFC) in the School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. The EFC summarizes findings from research literature, national and international reports, and 175 case studies. Read more in ASLA's THE DIRT: https://bit.ly/4en2ba8Image Credit: The Houston Arboretum and Nature Center in Houston, Texas. Design Workshop and Reed Hilderbrand / Brandon Huttenlocher/Design Workshop

"Nature-based solutions such as rain gardens, bioswales, and green roofs effectively manage stormwater. These features can be constructed for 5-30 percent less and maintained for 25 percent less than conventional gray infrastructure." "Every dollar invested in ecosystem restoration returns $5 to $28 in benefits, depending on the ecosystem." "Urban trees provide approximately $88 billion (US$ 2024) in carbon sequestration annually." "Every dollar invested in parks and green space can generate between $4 and $11, due to increased tourism, improved property values, and enhanced community health." Explore these exciting findings and more in the ASLA Fund's new brief Landscape Architecture: Maximizing the Economic Benefits of Nature-based Solutions Through Design. The research was developed by Dr. Jennifer Egan, PhD, PG, with the University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center. Read more in ASLA's THE DIRT: https://bit.ly/4en2ba8

Indigenous Peoples were the first landscape architects of this continent, said Lyla June Johnston, during the opening general session of the ASLA 2024 Conference on Landscape Architecture in Washington, D.C. We have been stewards of this land and made it beautiful and edible. We fed the Earth instead of just letting it feed us.Johnston is an Indigenous Artist, Musician, Scholar, and Community Organizer of Din (Navajo), Tstshsthese (Cheyenne), and European lineages. She was a co-presenter in the session with Julia Watson, Author, LoTEK Design by Radical Indigenism; Principal, Julia Watson llc; and Co-founder LoTEK Institute. During their session, Watson and Johnston, the Indigenous Society of Architecture, Planning, and Design (ISAPD), and ASLA and its Biodiversity and Climate Action Committee launched a historic call to action: Co-create a future that heals land and culture. They were then joined in conversation with Jose de Jesus Leal, ASLA, and Paul Fragua with MIG. Read more in ASLA's THE DIRT: https://bit.ly/4hYpKZEImage Credit: Bison in Yellowstone National Park / Fokusiert, https://bit.ly/3b1VhfW

ASLA stands with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. We are committed to doing what is necessary to limit global warming to less than 1.5. We are committed to: - Making decisions grounded in climate science - Addressing the climate crisis in a way that is sustainable and just for all - Achieving the goals of the ASLA Climate Action Plan, which calls for all landscape architecture projects to be zero-emission by 2040 ASLA has joined thousands of climate leaders nationwide by signing an open letter from America Is All In: https://www.americaisallin.com/letter2024 Learn more about ASLAs Climate Action Plan and join us in keeping 1.5 within reach: https://www.asla.org/climate Image Credit: ASLA Climate Action Plan. ASLA 2019 Professional General Design Honor Award. Hunter's Point South Waterfront Park Phase II: A New Urban Ecology. Long Island City, NY. SWA/BALSLEY and WEISS/MANFREDI with ARUP / copyright Vecerka/ESTO, courtesy SWA/BALSLEY and WEISS/MANFREDI

We listened to global policymakers last year at COP28 in Dubai. They seek to scale up investment in nature-based solutions but need to know how much these solutions cost and their economic benefits, said ASLA CEO Torey Carter-Conneen, Hon. ASLA.We now have some solid numbers that show landscape architects generate significant economic value through the way they design these solutions. But well also start an ambitious research agenda to calculate the economic benefits we currently cant measure.The ASLA Fund has released a new brief on the economic benefits of landscape architecture and nature-based solutions. The brief is developed for global and U.S. economic policymakers meeting at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Dr. Jennifer Egan, PhD, program manager, University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center (EFC) in the School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, developed the brief. The EFC received a grant from the ASLA Fund to develop this analysis, which summarizes findings from research literature, national and international reports, and 175 case studies.Read more in ASLA's THE DIRT: https://bit.ly/4en2ba8Image Credit: Thornton Creek Water Quality Channel, Seattle, Washington / MIG

The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial honors veterans across generations and military branches, recognizing the permanent disabilities they have endured in service to our country. Distinctive in the nations capital, this memorial venerates the living, providing a place of solace where veterans and citizens can come together to support our wounded while celebrating their survival.Landscape Architecture by Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, Ltd. Image Credit: ASLA 2020 Professional General Design Honor Award. American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, Washington, D.C., Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, Ltd. / Rena Schild; Craig Collins

"Early design phases are the most important time to set decarbonization goals. The design work that follows should: - Prioritize strategic, low-carbon decisions- Follow through with those decisions during construction documentation- Successfully deliver a low-carbon project" -- Alejandra Hinojosa, Affil. ASLA, and Mariana Ricker, ASLA, SWA Group ICYMI: ASLA has released a NEW free guide to Decarbonizing the Design Process This guide offers a phase-by-phase structure to decarbonize design through big ideas, strategies, and best practices. It is high-level, offering approaches that can be implemented regardless of project type, scope, and scale.Access the free guide: https://bit.ly/47RrXl1Image Credit: ASLA 2020 Professional General Design Honor Award. Naval Cemetery Landscape, Brooklyn, NY. Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects / Max Touhey

Study Landscape Architecture in Brooklyn with Pratt Institute!Pratts Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) program offers a unique curriculum that prepares students to design land and land-based practices that advance environmental and social justice in a time of climate and public change.Supported by faculty and professional associations, the program emphasizes civic engagement and respects the traditional and unceded homeland of the Lenape people."In a time of great uncertainty, we are certain that our relationship to the land requires our complete attention. Join us." Rosetta S. Elkin, PhD, ASLA, Program DirectorLearn more about the program and apply today: https://bit.ly/3CkJ8jsImages: Student work projecting forest ecology in Catskills, NY Drawing by Anjali Britto (MLA 27) Model By Anjali Britto and Greta Lincoln MLA 27); Students from all three years work together on land-based Fieldwork in the first weeks of class. Image by Rosetta S. Elkin; Student work projecting heat inequality in Flatbush, BK - Cartography by Chloe Kellner (MLA 26) - Various Images of Community engagement by Ellen Garrett; Student work projecting design interventions across a Barrier Island formations Imagery by Patrick Belli (MLA 25)#PartnerContent

Happy #STEMDay! Landscape architecture is a STEM field that combines Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math to design the spaces where you live, work, and play.Inspire the next generation! Discover ASLAs Tools for PreK-12 Teachers with hands-on activities that introduce STEM principles, critical thinking, and problem-solving through the lens of landscape architecture at asla.org/prek12teachersImage Credit: ASLA 2018 Professional General Design Honor Award. Chicago Riverwalk | State Street to Franklin Street, Chicago, Illinois. Sasaki and Ross Barney Architects / Kate Joyce; overlay Courtesy of Sasaki; ASLA 2023 Professional General Design Honor Award. Grand Junction Park and Plaza, Westfield, Indiana. DAVID RUBIN Land Collective / Alan Karchmer; Diagram: DAVID RUBIN Land Collective; ASLA 2023 Professional Urban Design Honor Award. Town Branch Commons: An Urban Transformation in Lexington, Kentucky. SCAPE, Gresham Smith / SCAPE and Ty Cole; ASLA 2022 Professional General Design Honor Award. West Pond: Living Shoreline, Brooklyn and Queens, New York. Dirtworks Landscape Architecture P.C / Jean Schwarzwalder/DEP

At COP29, ASLA will be represented by delegates Pamela Conrad, ASLA, Founder of Climate Positive Design, and Kotchakorn Voraakhom, International ASLA, Founder of Landprocess. Together, they will host the workshop Working with Nature: Landscape Action in National Adaptation Plans, guiding policymakers on using nature-based solutions for climate adaptation, emissions reduction, and ecosystem restoration.This is the start of such important global work, said ASLA CEO, Torey Carter-Conneen, Hon. ASLA.This marks ASLAs third year as an NGO observer to the UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP) process.Read more in ASLA's THE DIRT: https://bit.ly/4fFE8V3Image Credit: ASLA 2019 Professional General Design Honor Award. Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park. Bangkok, Thailand / LANDPROCESS, Suratchana Pakavaleetorn

"Always consider what is on the site first and what waste materials may be available" -- Chris Hardy, ASLA, Senior Associate, Sasaki ICYMI: ASLA has released NEW free guidelines for Decarbonizing Specifications. These guidelines are written for landscape architects and designers, specifiers, contractors, manufacturers, and leaders in our discipline and industry who want to cut emissions and increase carbon sequestration faster. They are thematic and condensed to provide a CliffsNotes overview of best practices. Access the free guidelines: https://bit.ly/47RrXl1Image Credit: ASLA 2021 Professional Urban Design Honor Award. Xuhui Runway Park. Shanghai, China. Sasaki / Insaw Photography

The 2025 ASLA Council of Fellows nomination call is now open! Honor outstanding members for their work, leadership, knowledge, and service. Nominate a deserving member today! https://bit.ly/4hx6dzvDeadline: February 1, 2025Image Credit: ASLA 2024 Council of Fellows / nobilephoto

Celebrate National STEM Day with ASLA on Friday, November 8! Lets give the STEM community something to talk about! In 2023, landscape architecture earned recognition as a STEM discipline for the science, technology, engineering, and math coursework required in collegiate landscape architecture programs.Join us in inspiring the next generation of landscape architects with ASLAs Tools for PreK-12 Teachers: https://bit.ly/40wS1ywWhether partnering with your local school or community group, remember to DREAM BIG with Design!Image Credit: ASLA; PARK(ing) Day 2024, Baltimore, MD / Laurel McSherry, ASLA; Lisa Jennings; Ken Laxton, ASLA#NationalSTEMDay

"Earning the title landscape architect has profound meaning to me. It will represent my commitment to prioritizing environmental protection, strengthen my goals as a designer, and empower me to voice for diversity in our profession." Rutusha Nagaraj Kapini, ASLACongratulations to Rutusha for being selected to participate in the 2024-2026 Licensure Advancement Program!This ASLA Fund initiative, now in its third year, provides vital financial and educational support to underrepresented individuals pursuing their landscape architecture licensure. Each participant receives up to $3,500 to cover the costs of the LARE, access to exam prep courses, and mentorship from licensed landscape architects. Help us continue this important work by donating to the ASLA Fund: https://bit.ly/3TISf3i

Join ASLA, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) on November 7 at 1 PM EST for a virtual member briefing on the recent UN Convention on Biological Diversity conference (COP16). Learn about key takeaways for the built environment. Hear from representatives who attended COP16 in Cali, Colombia, including Dr. Sohyun Park, ASLA, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Connecticut.; Liz Beardsley, Senior Policy Counsel at USGBC; and Danielle Pieranunzi, SITES Director at GBCI. This free webinar is open to members of ASLA and USGBC. Register today: https://bit.ly/3YClTsKIf you are not a member of either organization but interested in attending, please contact publicpolicies@usgbc.orgImage Credit: ASLA 2024 Professional Urban Design Honor Award. Wild Mile: Transforming an Urban River into a Floating Eco-Park. Chicago, Illinois. Omni Workshop and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill / Curtis Waltz copyright Aerielscapes, Inc, courtesy of SOM

This Halloween, were gearing up to celebrate National STEM Day on November 8 by giving away a copy of "Monsters Love Native Blooms"a fun childrens book introducing young readers to 12 native Indiana plants and the role of landscape architects.To Enter: Comment with your favorite native plant Entries close November 7 at 11:59 PM. The winner will be announced on National STEM Day.Image Credit: ASLA 2023 Student Communications Honor Award. Children's Book and Learning Games on Indiana Native Plants & Habitats. Autumn McNinch, Associate ASLA; Chloe Kennedy, Associate ASLA; Kayla Kramer, Associate ASLA; Molly Wimberg; Wanting Zhang, Student ASLA; Faculty Advisor: Yiwei Huang, ASLA;Purdue University#STEMeducation #STEMresources #LandscapeArchitecture

Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 ASLA Student Award for Urban Design.Award of ExcellenceSiaya Eco-Park: A Vision for a Green, Inclusive Hub in Siayas HeartJohanny Bonilla Jimenez, Associate ASLA; Michelle Syl Yeng Chan, Associate ASLA; Caroline Schoeller, Associate ASLA; Leechen Zhu, Student ASLA;Faculty Advisors: David Gouverneur; Catherine Seavitt, FASLA; Thabo LenneiyeThe University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of DesignHonor AwardFluid Fiesta: Blending Rainfall and Terrain Dynamics with LandscapesJiamin Shen, Student International ASLA; Zixuan Sun, Student International ASLA; Jiahui Gao, Student International ASLA; Dingyao ZhuFaculty Advisor: Jun Zhai, ASLASoochow UniversityHonor AwardFrom Remnants to Resonance: Reimagine Coastal Fishing VillagesLuoman Ouyang, Student International ASLA; Zhiyi Guo; Jiaxin JiangFaculty Advisor: Victoria MarshallNational University of SingaporeHonor AwardRiverside Revival: Urban Design Strategies for Coastal DevelopmentJules Mainor, Student ASLA; Anna Desmone, Student ASLA; Jui Dudhiya, Associate ASLA; Tatiana Veloso, Associate ASLA; Omori Yui, Student International ASLAFaculty Advisors: Andrew Fox, FASLA; Claire Henkel, Associate ASLANorth Carolina State UniversityHonor AwardStitching Kingston, Community to CoastZhao Zicheng, Associate ASLA; Jiewen Hu, Associate ASLAFaculty Advisors: Lucinda Sanders, FASLA; Trevor Lee, ASLA; Demetrios Staurinos, ASLAThe University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of DesignHonor AwardUnity Oasis: Promoting Equality, Nurturing Racial Healing in Cape TownYiyao Zhou, Student International ASLA; Weishi Zhou, Student International ASLA; Hao Gong, Student International ASLA; Lin Xu, Student International ASLA; Sizhe HeFaculty Advisor: Jun Zhai, ASLASoochow UniversityLearn more about these projects: https://www.asla.org/2024studentawards/The ASLA Awards program is supported by the ASLA Fund.

The ASLA team got into the festive spirit today with some fun costumes! #InsideASLA

Join us today for an ASLA Online Learning presentation on invasive species management research, hosted by the Sustainable Design & Development Professional Practice Network (PPN). This webinar is FREE for ASLA members and offers 1.0 PDH (LA CES/HSW)! Tuesday, October 29 2 PM ET | 11 AM PT Register: https://bit.ly/3NIjHdVSpeakers:Evelyn Beaury, Assistant Curator, New York Botanical GardenErik Sechler, Ecological Programs Coordinator/Ecologist, Native Plant TrustTopic:Invasive species and climate change are exacerbating negative impacts on native ecosystems. This talk will discuss research projects aimed at improving how we manage invasive species in light of climate change, specifically focusing on controlling the introduction of invasive plants through horticulture.Current policies for addressing the spread of invasive plants are insufficient, highlighting the need for better regional coordination. Strategies for addressing this issue will be discussed, with examples from invasive species networks in the Northeast U.S. Case studies will include the Native Plant Trust's habitat management efforts in Concord, MA, to protect a rare violet threatened by the continued presence and spread of glossy buckthorn.

Superstorm Sandy inundated Lower Manhattan, causing billions in property and infrastructure damage.To protect against future flooding, storm surges, and sea level rise, landscape architects are developing an innovative mix of green and grey solutions along the southern coast of Manhattan.These are not nature-based solutions but forms of armor. And designers are showing how this armature can be woven into the public realm, creating new kinds of infrastructure.Smart design is resulting in retractable gates and walls, landscaped berms, and raised platforms. No concrete walls separating communities from each other or the waterfront here.These projects are being led by AECOM, SCAPE, BIG/CSM, and MNLA. Read more in ASLA's THE DIRT: https://bit.ly/4e71NfRImage Credit: Brooklyn Bridge and Montgomery Coastal Resilience (Gates open) / AECOM; East Side Coastal Resilience Program / MNLA; Rockefeller Park: Proposed wall design / SCAPE and BIG/CSM

"Licensure will give me the possibility to grow my business and can lead to leadership opportunities." Jessica Jerez, ASLACongratulations to Jessica for being selected to participate in the 2024-2026 Licensure Advancement Program!This initiative, now in its third year, provides underrepresented individuals with vital financial and educational support to pursue their landscape architecture licensure. Each participant receives up to $3,500 to cover the cost of the LARE, access to exam prep courses, and mentorship from licensed landscape architects.By investing in this program, the ASLA Fund is committed to increasing racial and gender diversity within the profession, creating a more inclusive future for landscape architecture.You can help us continue this important work! Consider making a donation to support future participants on their journey to licensure. Every contribution helps pave the way for a diverse and empowered landscape architecture community.Learn more: https://bit.ly/3IIscnl

Celebrating Excellence in Landscape Architecture The ASLA Honors recognize individuals and firms making a significant impact in the landscape architecture profession. Selected by ASLAs Board of Trustees, these prestigious accolades represent the highest honors awarded each year, showcasing innovative work, visionary leadership, and enduring contributions to the field.ASLA 2024 Honors Recipients: The ASLA Medal: Perry Howard, FASLA The ASLA Design Medal: Raymond Jungles, FASLA, Raymond Jungles, Inc. The Community Service Award: Design Workshop Foundation The Jot D. Carpenter Teaching Medal: William "Chip" Winslow III, FASLA The LaGasse Medal - Landscape Architect Professional: Jeff Caster, FASLA The LaGasse Medal - Non-Landscape Architect Professional: Carol Coletta, Memphis River Parks Partnership The Landscape Architecture Firm Award: LandDesign, Inc. The Medal of Excellence: Open Land Trust of Beaufort County The Olmsted Medal: Gowanus Canal Conservancy The ASLA Emerging Professional Medal: Stephanie Onwenu, ASLAWho will be the next honorees? Mark your calendars! The 2025 Call for Nominations opens November 11, 2024, and closes February 14, 2025.Image Credit: ASLA 2024 Honors Recipients / nobilephoto#ASLA2024 #ASLAawards

Here is the link to register for tonight's event:prmu.se/register-disinfo2024-2

"The world has lost 60 percent of animal populations since 1970. This staggering decline reflects the growing pressures on ecosystems, from habitat destruction to climate change. And 1 million species now face threats of extinction. As these problems continue to escalate, the importance of preserving biodiversity and restoring ecosystems becomes clearer," writes Pamela Conrad, ASLA, Founder of Climate Positive Design and ASLA's Inaugural Biodiversity and Climate Action Fellow. "The term biodiversity which means the variety of all life on Earth is new to many. But it has been present in the work of landscape architects for decades." There are key ways we can increase biodiversity:- Preserve- Restore - Connect and Create - Measure Read more in ASLA's THE DIRT.By Pamela Conrad The world has lost 60 percent of animal populations since 1970. This staggering decline reflects the growing pressures on ecosystems, from habitat destruction to climate change. An

Swapping our work attire for some school spirit! The ASLA team is proudly representing their alma maters today.We want to see where our incredible landscape architecture community comes from! Comment your school below.Lets celebrate the amazing programs shaping the future leaders of our profession! #InsideASLA

We are advancing 30 x 30 through our projects, research, and advocacy. In our Climate Action Plan, we called for restoring ecosystems and increasing biodiversity on a global scale. This year in Colombia, we will show policymakers how to do it through the latest planning and design strategies, said ASLA CEO Torey Carter-Conneen, Hon. ASLA.ASLA announced that Dr. Sohyun Park, ASLA, PhD, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, University of Connecticut, and MaFe Gonzalez, ASLA, Landscape Designer and Botanist, BASE Landscape Architecture, will represent ASLA at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Cali, Colombia, October 21-November 1.ASLA and its 16,000 member landscape architects, designers, and educators support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and its key goals and targets. Landscape architects are committed to achieving the 2030 goals and targets, including protecting and restoring at least 30 percent of terrestrial, coastal, and marine ecosystems by 2030 (30 x 30). They also stand behind the Vision for 2050.Read more in ASLA's THE DIRT: https://bit.ly/3Ujjl1cImage Credit: ASLA 2020 Professional General Design Honor Award. The Native Plant Garden at The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, New York. OEHME, VAN SWEDEN | OvS / Ivo Vermeulen#LandscapeArchitecture #COP16Colombia #PeaceWithNature United Nations Biodiversity

"Transit infrastructure projects offer an opportunity for a long-term thinking and a multi-pronged approach" -- Scott Bishop, ASLA, Founding Principal, Bishop Land Design, LLC and Former Chair, ASLA Biodiversity and Climate Action Committee At the Mpact Transit + Community Conference (formerly Rail~Volution) in Philadelphia, Bishop will present "Regenerative Design in Transit Oriented Communities" on Wednesday, October 23 from 10:30-11:30 AM. "Learn about regenerative approaches to infrastructure and development. Find out how your project could not only consider impacts on climate change and social inequities but also enable communities to co-evolve within natural systems." Register today: https://bit.ly/4hjbkD9Image Credit: Regenerative transit-oriented development projects / Bishop Land Design #MpactPhilly Mpact: Mobility, Community, Possibility

Landscape architects are key to translating policy into action and realizing real biodiversity gains in landscapes, particularly in cities, said ASLA President Kona Gray, FASLA, PLA. We are uniquely positioned to lead multidisciplinary teams of ecologists, biologists, engineers, and other disciplines to protect, restore, and enhance ecosystems worldwide.ASLA announced that Dr. Sohyun Park, ASLA, PhD, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, University of Connecticut, and MaFe Gonzalez, ASLA, Landscape Designer and Botanist, BASE Landscape Architecture, will represent ASLA at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Cali, Colombia, October 21-November 1.ASLA and its 16,000 member landscape architects, designers, and educators support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and its key goals and targets. Landscape architects are committed to achieving the 2030 goals and targets, including protecting and restoring at least 30 percent of terrestrial, coastal, and marine ecosystems by 2030 (30 x 30). They also stand behind the Vision for 2050.Read more in ASLA's THE DIRT: https://bit.ly/3Ujjl1cImage Credit: Dolores Pollinator Boulevard, San Franciso, California. BASE Landscape Architecture / Maria DuaraUConn Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture

"Licensure will show I possess the education and practical experience of a proficient landscape architect as well as having undergone the rigorous examination required to design and build large-scale projects that directly impact the public health, safety, and welfare of our communities."Congratulations to Linda Heckenkamp, ASLA, based in Tampa Bay, FL, for being selected to participate in the 2024-2026 Licensure Advancement Program!This program, now in its third year, provides underrepresented individuals with financial and educational support to pursue their landscape architecture licensure. Each participant receives up to $3,500 to cover the cost of LARE exam sections, access to exam prep courses, and mentorship from a licensed landscape architect. This initiative by the ASLA Fund is aimed at increasing racial and gender diversity within the profession.Learn more: https://www.asla.org/wclap.aspx

Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 ASLA Student Award for Analysis and Planning.Award of ExcellenceThe Embers of the RainbowYuqiao Zhang; Ruijun Ma, Student International ASLA; Zihan Zhang, Student International ASLA; Bochen ZhangFaculty Advisor: Tao JiangXian University of Architecture and TechnologyHonor AwardCommunity Cycle: A Solution to Dike-Pond Landscape SimplificationMiao Xingjian, Student International ASLA; Chi Wenxiu; Cheng Qiantong; He Xiaoqi; Yang Xiaowei; Lin Ye; Zhong Zhaoyu; Xiao Hanyi; Jiang Linju, Student International ASLAFaculty Advisor: Guangsi LinSouth China University of TechnologyHonor AwardHops Rescue Plan: Nature-Based Solutions Responsed to Climate ChangeWanlin Qu, Student International ASLA; Luyi Lin, Student International ASLA; Meixin Song, Student International ASLA; Ziyao Tang, Student International ASLA; Xi Zhang, Student International ASLA; Di Li, Student International ASLA; Yehong Yuan, Student International ASLAFaculty Advisors: Xiaoyu Ge; Xiong LiBeijing Forestry UniversityHarvard UniversityBeijing University of Civil Engineering and ArchitectureHonor AwardMigratory Bird Networks & Urban Networks: From Conflict to CoexistenceGeunsu Park; Soeun Kim, Student International ASLA; Seyeon Lee; Ayoung KimFaculty Advisor: Yoonshin KwakGachon University of South KoreaHonor AwardSprouting from the Scar: Seed - Biochar - ReforestationAndrew Reichenbach, Associate ASLA; Shuyi Hao, Associate ASLAFaculty Advisor: Nicholas Pevzner, ASLAUniversity of PennsylvaniaThe #ASLAawards program is supported by the ASLA Fund.

Kona Gray, FASLA, PLA, is the 80th president of ASLA! Sworn in at the ASLA 2024 Conference on Landscape Architecture, Kona shared his vision: I believe in our planet; I believe in humanity; and I believe in ASLA. Which ultimately means, I believe in you. Together we can strengthen our professional Society by Elevating Design, Celebrating Practice, and Leveraging Partnerships.Join us in congratulating him! Image Credit: ASLA 2024 President's Lunch. Washington, D.C. / nobilephoto

Become a Mentor for the 2024-2025 Future City Competition presented by DiscoverE.ASLA is proud to sponsor the Special Award for Design-Centered Solutions with Nature in this international STEM competition, engaging 60,000+ middle school students! Support a project that helps students: - Understand how landscape architects and engineers work together - Build teamwork, problem-solving, and project management skillsMentor commitment: 15-25 hours from now through February 2025 Work alongside STEM teachers, share real-life STEM experiences, offer technical guidance, and help translate academic concepts to the real world of city design and landscape architecture.Ready to make an impact? Register now: futurecity.org/registerAfter registering, youll receive optional school assignments to fit your schedule and region. Please let Lisa J. Jennings, ASLA's Senior Manager of Career Discovery and Diversity, know you've signed up at ljennings@asla.org.Image Credit: Winners of the 2023-2024 Future City Competition Award for Design-Centered Solutions with Nature / Future City

A look into the ASLA 2024 Conference on Landscape Architecture. Over 6,500 landscape architecture professionals and students, along with 315+ exhibitors, gathered in Washington, D.C. to celebrate ASLAs 125th anniversary! Attendees enjoyed four days of educational sessions, special events, EXPO hall exhibits, and exploring D.C. with their peers.Mark your calendars now for ASLA 2025 in New Orleans, October 10-13! Sign up for updates: https://bit.ly/4eNiIVV

Landscape architects who have used Climate Positive Designs Pathfinder know its a tool for calculating the carbon footprint of a landscape. It then helps designers figure out ways to reduce emissions from materials and increase carbon sequestration faster.The new version of Pathfinder improves on those capabilities but also enables landscape architects and planners to do much more.We decided its time to deepen our carbon accounting and evaluate biodiversity, equity, cooling, and water conservation with the same rigor, said Pamela Conrad, ASLA, founder of Climate Positive Design and ASLAs inaugural Biodiversity and Climate Action Fellow. Read more in ASLA's THE DIRT.Buildings, landscapes, and infrastructure are responsible for more than 40 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions each year. Reducing the use of materials with high embodied carbon, like concre

Help Us Reach 125 Founders Club Members to Celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the American Society of Landscape Architects! We're just 12 members away from our goal of 125 Founders Club members! Your support helps us celebrate this milestone while sustaining essential ASLA Fund programs like: ASLA Biodiversity and Climate Action Career Discovery Licensure Advancement Program Research Grants...and more!Join today for as little as $18.99/month: https://bit.ly/3BP2b5eImage Credit: ASLA 2019 Professional General Design Honor Award. Hunter's Point South Waterfront Park Phase II: A New Urban Ecology. Long Island City, NY. SWA/BALSLEY and WEISS/MANFREDI with ARUP / copyright Vecerka/ESTO, courtesy SWA/BALSLEY and WEISS/MANFREDI; Students at the ASLA 2024 Conference on Landscape Architecture / nobilephoto; ASLA Career Discovery

As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, we proudly celebrate Patricia Algara, FASLAthe first Latina Fellow from the ASLA Northern California Chapter. Her work exemplifies the power of diversity in landscape architecture.Born and raised in Mexico, Patricia is the founding principal of BASE Landscape Architecture and a leader in sustainable design and community engagement. She also founded "With Honey in the Heart," an NGO creating habitats for pollinators.As a lecturer at UC Berkeley and international speaker, Patricia shares her expertise to expand the profession.Join us in celebrating Patricia and the contributions of Hispanic and Latine leaders in landscape architecture!Image Credit: ASLA 2024 Council of Fellows Investiture Ceremony / nobilephoto

Join us tomorrow, October 16, at 1 PM ET, for a FREE Spark Talk!Haemee Han, ASLA, PLA from Jaemee Studio, and Misa Chen, ASLA, PLA from Studio Edition will explore how to prioritize human experiences in our tech-driven world. Discover effective strategies for balancing innovative technology with a people-first approach in landscape architecture.Dont miss out on this insightful discussion! Register now: https://bit.ly/3zQTkPU

Join landscape architect Elizabeth J Kennedy, FASLA, PLA, at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, October 15 from 6:30 to 8 PM. Kennedy will explore the challenges of designing tough sites, locations steeped in culturally charged and contested histories. Kennedy will focus on her ongoing projects, including the Inwood Sacred Site in northern Manhattan. The site, a former African burial ground on land originally taken from the Lenni Lenape, represents complex narratives of displacement and cultural heritage. She will then be joined in conversation with cultural consultant Peggy King Jorde and architect Rodney Leon, collaborators on the African Burial Ground National Monument.This lecture is presented in partnership with Dumbarton Oaks' Garden and Landscape Studies Department. Tickets are $15. Register today: https://bit.ly/4h4HbHxImage Credit: Elizabeth Kennedy and Justice for Daunte Wright. Weeksville Heritage Center, Brooklyn, NY; September 2, 2023 / Elizabeth Kennedy Landscape Architect, PLLC.

"Getting the license means achieving a personal goal: gaining confidence and credibility in what I do, and achieving a social justice goal: increasing the representation of minorities in qualified leadership positions."Congratulations to MaFe Gonzalez, Assoc. ASLA, from San Francisco, CA, for being selected to participate in the 2024-2026 Licensure Advancement Program!This program, now in its third year, provides underrepresented individuals with financial and educational support to pursue their landscape architecture licensure. Each participant receives up to $3,500 to cover the cost of LARE exam sections, access to exam prep courses, and mentorship from a licensed landscape architect. This initiative by the ASLA Fund is aimed at increasing racial and gender diversity within the profession.Learn more: https://bit.ly/3IIscnlBASE Landscape Architecture

"We desperately need to see a field that more genuinely values diversity and equity for women and people of color. If I can be even a small part of this change by lending my voice, I will be."Congratulations to Zeynep Gksel, ASLA, from New York, NY, for being selected to participate in the 2024-2026 Licensure Advancement Program!This program, now in its third year, provides underrepresented individuals with financial and educational support to pursue their landscape architecture licensure. Each participant receives up to $3,500 to cover the cost of LARE exam sections, access to exam prep courses, and mentorship from a licensed landscape architect. This initiative by the ASLA Fund is aimed at increasing racial and gender diversity within the profession.Learn more: https://bit.ly/3IIscnl