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2024 Biodiversity Survey

How familiar are you with the biodiversity crisis and its implications for landscape architecture?

Very familiar - 62%
Somewhat familiar - 34%
Not very familiar - 3%
Not familiar at all - <1%

Is biodiversity a component of your organization’s environmental ethos and practice?

Yes. Biodiversity is deeply ingrained in our organization's environmental ethos, and we prioritize initiatives that support biodiversity conservation alongside efforts to mitigate climate change. - 45%

Somewhat. Biodiversity is considered in our organization’s environmental ethos, but it may not be as emphasized or integrated as other aspects of our resiliency approach. - 41%

No. Biodiversity is not currently a component of our organization’s environmental ethos, but we recognize its importance and are open to incorporating it into our sustainability strategy. - 11%

No. And it's not a priority for us - 3%

What best describes your organization's approach to addressing the biodiversity crisis?

Integrate nature-based design strategies into projects - 63%
Use a large percentage of native plants - 62%
Educate clients, partners, and stakeholders - 47%
Identify eco-region, plant communities, and target species to tailor solutions through site analysis - 47%
Use a rich and layered approach to planting - 38%
Identify appropriate nature based solutions that also target biodiversity net gain - 32%
Manage and eradicate invasive species - 26%
Incorporate structures for wildlife, micro-climate creation, nesting opportunities, water resources, etc - 19%
Create an integrated design team that includes ecologists and/or other specialists - 18%
Specify organic fertilizers, alternative eco-friendly pesticides, and/or integrated pest management plans - 16%
Research design analogues used to restore native landscapes - 14%
Develop and operate long-term biodiversity monitoring plan - 5%
Collect biodiversity data before and after projects - 4%
Form dedicated team to conduct biodiversity-specific research and consultation - 3%

What do you see as the primary barrier to addressing the biodiversity crisis?

Client expectations and market demand - 32%
Lack of awareness and understanding - 27%
Financial and resources constraints - 19%
Policy and regulatory constraints - 7%
Technical capacity constraints - 5%

Other challenges identified: increased development and lack of awareness, native plant availability, and maintenance.

Comments: "Lack of recognition and urgency across sectors. The biodiversity crisis is not perceived as urgent, and there's no way to measure it, and no regulatory framework, so it's easy to greenwash or value-engineer this out."

With what types of projects and at what scales are you addressing Biodiversity Net Gain?

Green stormwater infrastructure - 49%
Neighborhood parks - 41%
Corridors, buffers, and greenways - 36%
Conservation or ecological restoration - 36%
Residential gardens and landscapes - 32%
Regional parks - 25%
Urban forests - 17%
Green roofs - 13%
Pedestrian and cycling infrastructure - 11%
Right of way design and management (roadside pollinator programs) - 8%
Regenerative farming and agriculture - 8%

What resources do you use to persuade clients to invest in increasing biodiversity?

Research studies - 38%
Sustainable Site Initiative (SITES) - 30%
Conferences or public speaking engagements - 22%
Op-eds or articles - 17%
Social media posts - 14%

Are you establishing Biodiversity Net Gain targets for your projects?

No, we have not yet formally implemented goals for advancing BNG on our projects. - 67%

Yes, we set targets to enhance ecosystem services provided by the project area, such as pollination, carbon sequestration, water purification, and flood regulation - 17%

Yes, we establish targets for the creation or restoration of specific habitat types - 16%

Yes, we aim to achieve a certain percentage increase in biodiversity compared to the pre-development baseline - 13%

Yes, we establish targets to improve ecological connectivity between habitats to facilitate wildlife movement and gene flow - 11%

Yes, we set targets to enhance populations of specific species of conservation concern (Species Enhancement) - 9%

Yes, we establish targets for ongoing monitoring and adaptive management to track progress towards BNG goals and make adjustments as needed to optimize biodiversity outcomes - 3%

What is most needed to address the biodiversity crisis within our profession?  

Create policy initiatives that integrate biodiversity positive principles and requirements into landscape architecture’s scope of work at national, state, and local levels. - 32%

Develop educational resources and training to increase landscape architects’ knowledge and skills to address biodiversity. - 28%

Establish a new forum for collaboration and engagement with diverse stakeholders to co-create biodiversity solutions. - 11%

Develop advocacy campaigns that demonstrate biodiversity as a core value and professional responsibility within landscape architecture to our partners and collaborators. - 10%

Demonstrate thought leadership through supporting research, publishing case studies or demonstration projects, and convening experts on biodiversity. - 10%

Comments:

"We need nursery stock to reflect more biodiversity. Rarely do I have a project that doesn't ask for some sort of planting substitution. The growing of more diverse species and ability to specify more diverse species would go a long way."

"Management guidelines and trainings for landscape maintenance professionals. We can design a biodiverse landscape, but if it isn't maintained accordingly it will fail."

"Make it easy to calculate Biodiversity Net Gain! Many clients don't want to pay lots of money for this, so it needs to be economical to figure out."

"We need policy to give landscape architects more power to protect biodiversity in the eyes of the law. Developers prioritize parking and other infrastructure over any of the natural features and tend to proceed without penalty. There are progressive townships and cities that protect their wetlands and forests to a greater extent, but they are few."

About the survey

293 member landscape architects, designers, and educators responded to the survey in the month of July 2024. ASLA has 12,037 full, associate, and international members as of April 8, 2024.

The survey questions were developed by the ASLA Biodiversity and Climate Action Committee and its member leaders: Maria Landoni, ASLA, David Cutter, FASLA, Will Metcalf, ASLA, Keith Bowers, FASLA, Betsey Peterson, Assoc. ASLA, Sohyun Park, ASLA, Leah Stoltz, ASLA, Chris Hardy, ASLA, and Amy Syverson-Shaffer, ASLA.