Speaker(s): Eric Kramer, ASLA | Deanna Moran, AICP | Kim A. Chapman

Our urban forests are in severe decline. Climate change, pests, diseases, and development pressures threaten the urban canopy's ecosystem and cultural value. This panel discusses a research-based urban forest master plan for Cambridge, Massachusetts, that joins ecological planning, progressive policy, and cutting-edge practices to build a resilient and equitable future.

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Speaker(s): Frederick R. Steiner, FASLA, SITES AP | Anne Whiston Spirn, FASLA | Carter van Dyke, ASLA | Baldev Lamba, ASLA

In celebrating the 50-year anniversary of Ian McHarg’s seminal Design with Nature, this panel provides insights into his legacy and broad influences, informed by personal experiences, and explores the relevance of his ecologically driven vision for addressing the contemporary and emerging issues of landscape resilience, performance, and climate change.

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Speaker(s): Gina McCarthy

ASLA members may view this presentation and access the professional development exam (1.0 PDH LA CES/non-HSW) for free after logging in (using your ASLA member ID and password).

Climate change is the most significant environmental, health, economic, and security challenge of our time. Science tells us that time is running out to make the shift to a clean, carbon-free future, but there is hope. Gina McCarthy will explore how policies, programs, and investments in the United States and beyond can turn the corner to a clean energy future.

McCarthy has dedicated her 35-year career in public service to environmental protection and public health. Her leadership and perseverance have led to federal, state, and local actions on critical environmental issues, and her significant accomplishments include action to advance environmental, clean energy, public transportation, and public health goals consistent with a growing economy in New England and across the United States.

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Speaker(s): Nancy Somerville, Hon. ASLA, SITES AP | Mark Dawson, FASLA | Adam Ortiz, Hon. ASLA | Jalonne White-Newsome, PhD

ASLA members may view this presentation and access the professional development exam (1.5 PDH LA CES/HSW) for free after logging in (using your ASLA member ID and password). 

On March 4, 2019, experts from ASLA’s interdisciplinary Blue Ribbon Panel on Climate Change and Resilience presented their report, Smart Policies for a Changing Climate, during a congressional briefing on Capitol Hill. The report outlines a bold vision for 21^st century green infrastructure investment to create healthy, climate-smart, and resilient communities from coast to coast. It is a blueprint for securing a sustainable and resilient future through design and planning approaches as well as specific public policy recommendations.

Though we are all vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change, some groups are disproportionately affected. Climate-related health challenges are an environmental justice issue because certain communities that already experience multiple environmental health burdens are also disproportionately affected by climate change. Our challenge is to put these recommended planning approaches and public policies into practice as standard operating procedure for communities of all sizes and for all types of development.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify how green infrastructure uses trees, plants, and permeable hard surfaces to capture and filter stormwater to reduce pollution run-off, mitigate the urban heat-island effect, and provide community amenities and assets.
• Illustrate how utilizing natural systems and integrating green infrastructure into the built environment can be the most cost effective solution for meeting multiple public policy objectives.
• Discuss how to address environmental justice and racial and society equity issues that impact climate vulnerable communities.

Download ASLA's Smart Policies for a Changing Climate report.


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Speaker(s): Lisa Cowan, ASLA, SITES AP | Martha P. Sheils | Rachel Bouvier | Marla Stelk

Trends in sustainable design and resiliency require landscape architects to be versed in ecosystem services and measurable benefits. Green infrastructure provides opportunities for valuing natural and built systems. The expert speakers will provide their insights and case studies for design and maintenance strategies, including the SITES v2 framework.

The GBCI course ID for this course is 920019137, providing SITES-specific CE hours required to maintain SITES AP credentials. Participants will need to pass the exam at the end of the presentation in order to receive a certificate of completion. Participants will need to self-report CE hours through their credentials account on https://sitesonline.usgbc.org.

Learning Objectives:

• Gain insight into the public goods nature of natural ecosystems and the flow of benefits concept.
• Understand how monetary values for ecosystem services are derived, and the benefits and pitfalls of that evaluation.
• Learn which financial benefits of green infrastructure are being targeted the most widely by municipalities and design teams.
• Apply the ecosystem services and green infrastructure benefits strategies to the SITESv2 framework and certification including prerequisites and credits.

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Speaker(s): Steven N. Handel, Hon. ASLA | Nancy Owens, ASLA, LEED AP | Ann Kearsley, ASLA | Joe Berg

Integrating ecological restoration science with the design of cultural landscapes requires a multidisciplinary approach, a project team able to combine spacemaking and science, project programming and ecosystem function, aesthetics and biodiversity. This session examines how the tools and practice techniques from design and restoration ecology influence project goals and outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how conventional landscape architecture practices and landscape management frameworks prohibit the development of ecologically based, regenerative, self-organizing landscapes.
• Learn tools and techniques from restoration ecology practice that support natural plant reproduction and the establishment of self-organizing landscapes.
• Learn which design methods advance the biodiversity of pollinators on the landscapes.
• How can education and outreach improve successful outcomes for natural systems based landscape design?

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Speaker(s): Scott Bishop, ASLA | Scott Page | Meera Deean, AICP, LEED AP

Preparing for adaptation to climate change depends greatly on the location and the specific landscape adjacencies, both local and regional, to cities at risk. This session will look at three distinct environs—Philadelphia, Boston, and Fargo, North Dakota—and explore strategic approaches to mitigating the impacts of climate change.

Learning Objectives:

• Define and contextualize climate adaptation and mitigation approaches as they relate to historic data and future scenarios.
• Identify key players who can support and promote climate change adaptation, and discuss ways to collaborate and further educate clients, stakeholders, and citizens.
• Delineate strategies for developing a place-based action plan, finding ways to integrate climate planning into other initiatives.
• Envision the future of climate adaptation and climate mitigation through the integration of dynamic and adaptive models for creative solutions.

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Speaker(s): Vaughn B. Rinner, FASLA, SITES AP | Tim Duggan, ASLA | Diane Jones Allen, ASLA | Adam Ortiz, Hon. ASLA

ASLA has identified climate change as a key issue for its members, and for the society at large. Representatives from ASLA’s multi-disciplinary blue ribbon panel on climate change and resilience will discuss panel findings and public-policy recommendations for mitigating and adapting to climate change through resilient design.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn about barriers to climate smart and resilient design and planning.
• Learn tools and techniques for effective community and public engagement.
• Learn how to apply environmental justice analysis for community projects.
• Learn about comprehensive public policies recommendations that assist design professional in creating climate smart, resilient communities.

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Speaker(s): Mr. Greg Kochanowski, AIA | Helen Kongsgaard, ASLA | Jeremy Lancaster | Sean Kennedy

Fires and landslides cost more lives and money each year than all other disasters combined. However, there are few resources dedicated to studying their impact on urban environments. This session delves into current thinking regarding these issues, discusses political/economic realities, and posits possible design solutions/ways forward.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn about Land Use policies affecting Development Patterns in Wildland Urban Interface Zones
• Understand the effects of Climate Change on Debris Flows in relation to Fire / Flood Sequencing and Geological Processes
• Learn about the Impacts of Building Codes and Vegetation Control Ordinances in High Fire Zones
• Gain knowledge of Afforestation Strategies and their effectiveness in rehabilitating burn zones

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Speaker(s): Andrew Fox, ASLA | Kofi Boone, ASLA | Chuck Flink, FASLA | Gavin Paul Smith, AICP

This panel session will demonstrate the role of landscape architecture in adaptively and equitably building resilience to flooding hazards to increase health, safety, and welfare for all. Panelists will discuss innovative strategies and techniques that address known and anticipated future issues across a range of social, environmental, and economic factors.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn design approaches to climate adaptation and hazard mitigation, most specifically flooding.
• Understand the needs, issues, and opportunities associated with communities affected by recurrent flooding.
• Gain insight into best practices that reduce loss of life and property due to flooding.
• Examine policy and economic pathways to implement contextually appropriate design strategies.

Please complete a brief evaluation of this Online Learning presentation.