How to Speak to Conservative Communities About Climate & Biodiversity Action - 1.0 PDH (LA CES/non-HSW)
Includes a Live Web Event on 12/10/2026 at 1:00 PM (EST)
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Landscape architects are uniquely positioned to address climate change and biodiversity loss through thoughtful design and responsible land stewardship. However, the language we use to communicate these goals does not always resonate with the clients and communities we serve.
Learn how shared values, audience perspectives, and effective communication can help landscape architects build support for their work across political and cultural differences. Combining insights from psychology with practical approaches, the discussion will demonstrate how focusing on measurable outcomes, fiscal responsibility, risk management, and local value in conservative communities can advance climate and biodiversity goals without compromising design intent.
Learning objectives:
- Identify how differences in language, values, and audience priorities can influence support for climate and biodiversity initiatives.
- Apply communication strategies that emphasize shared values and measurable project outcomes, including fiscal responsibility, risk management, and local benefits.
- Develop approaches for communicating climate and biodiversity goals throughout the design process.
image: Even in an urban setting, landscapes can support rich biodiversity while serving essential infrastructure needs. By integrating diverse plant communities with on-site stormwater treatment and detention, we can create spaces that improve water quality, support local ecosystems, and provide lasting value to the surrounding community. Project by Outdoor Practice. / Hogue Landscape Services
Aida M. Curtis, FASLA, PLA, AIA
President
Curtis + Rogers Design Studio, Inc.
Aida M. Curtis is a nationally recognized landscape architect with over 40 years of experience advancing climate-responsive design and resilient infrastructure. As Founder and Principal of Curtis + Rogers Design Studio, a leading Hispanic- and woman-owned firm in South Florida, she delivers nature-based solutions that address sea-level rise, extreme heat, and coastal vulnerability while promoting social equity. Aida chairs the ASLA Biodiversity and Climate Action Committee, advising leadership on policies and strategies elevating biodiversity, and climate adaptation across the profession. She serves on the Board of the Landscape Architecture Foundation, championing research, advocacy, and the next generation of climate leaders.
Jonathan Williams, ASLA, PLA
Founder and Principal
Outdoor Practice
Jonathan Williams is the founder and principal of Outdoor Practice, a landscape architecture firm working across educational campuses, hospitality environments, and residential estates. With over fifteen years of experience, his work focuses on the relationship between landscape and human experience, creating welcoming places that foster connection and lasting memories.
He serves as a trustee of Architecture Center Houston, where he chairs the Exhibition and Programming Committee. He is also Co-Chair of the ASLA Climate & Biodiversity Action Committee Advocacy Subcommittee and served in the advisory group of Landscape Architecture 2040: ASLA Climate & Biodiversity Action Plan.
These experiences inform his approach to responsible land stewardship, professional advocacy, and the role landscape architects play in shaping communities. Across his work, Jonathan believes landscapes should create lasting connections between people and place, with beauty serving that purpose.
Garrett Ferguson, AIA, RA
Senior Sustainability Manager
JLL
Amy C. Syverson‑Shaffer, ASLA, SITES AP, TRUE Advisor
Sustainability Lead
Landscape Forms
Amy Syverson‑Shaffer is the Sustainability Lead at Landscape Forms, where she advances environmental stewardship and responsible manufacturing. With a background in landscape architecture, she brings a designer’s perspective to industry and collaborates across disciplines to drive meaningful change, She progresses the company's long-term sustainability roadmap through initiatives in product life cycle assessment, zero‑waste manufacturing, renewable energy, ecological restoration, and more. Amy serves on the ASLA Biodiversity and Climate Action Committee and the Landscape Architecture Foundation Board, frequently presenting on sustainability strategies. She was recently honored with ASLA’s Outstanding Service Award in recognition of exceptional leadership in sustainability and industry collaboration.
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