Planting for the Next 125 Years: Landscape Architecture’s Role in Combating Invasives - 1.25 PDH (LA CES/HSW)

Recorded On: 10/09/2024

Planting design brings the opportunity to create beautiful, inspiring spaces, but also the responsibility to consider the impact of plant selection on long-term maintenance, climate change, and ecosystem health. This session highlights strategies available to professionals facing issues of climate adaptation, shifting cultural values, and complex species interactions.

Learning objectives:

Articulate the intersectionality of health, ecosystem, and economic impacts of invasive plant species.
Define the evolving role of the nursery trade and landscape architects in bridging the gap between regulation and good practice.
Describe strategies for invasive species management using a native planting approach.
Manage invasive species using lessons learned from the field.

Barbara Barnes, ASLA, LEED AP

Ecosystem Restoration Section Leader

HDR Inc

For over twenty years Barbara has worked as a landscape architect, with an emphasis on urban landscapes and ecosystem restoration. Barbara is passionate about the intersection of landscape architecture and planting design and has spoken across the country on the topic. She was HDR’s project manager for the Federal Highway Administration’s “Invasive Species Impacts on Transportation Infrastructure”. The report documented case studies from across the country, which included cost data where available, highlighting the significant impacts invasive species have on transportation infrastructure, life cycle costs, and long-term operations.

Michael Spina, ASLA, PLA

Senior Landscape Architect

HDR

Michael is a professional landscape architect with 15 years of professional experience in ecological design. He works with project teams to develop and implement design and planning strategies that enhance ecosystem structure and function. His primary focus is on coastal climate resilience adaptation, ecological restoration, and green infrastructure, paying particular attention to waterfront access, conservation of biodiversity, and habitat opportunities.

Fran Chismar

Sultan of Sales

Pinelands Nursery

Meet Fran Chismar. Fran has over 35 years of Nursery experience - 17 of which focused in the field of restoration serving as Sultan of Sales for Pinelands Nursery in Columbus, NJ. Fran is knowledgeable in the field of native plants and their use in restoration, reforestation, and mitigation. Fran has had speaking engagements for such organizations as The Native Plant Society of NJ, Xfinity Sustainability Week, Ecological Landscape Alliance, Society of Ecological Restoration, and Wild Ones.. Fran is also Co-Host of The Native Plants, Healthy Planet Podcast which is consistently ranked as a Top 20 Podcast on Apple Podcast.