Professional Practice

Chapter Climate and Biodiversity Action Committee Overview

Committee Purpose

• Engage landscape architects in climate and biodiversity issues and developing solutions
• Develop resources, webinars, and events that address local climate and biodiversity issues
• Curate and share useful climate action resources with chapter members
• Collaborate with CELA and university representatives
• Collaborate with other ASLA chapter chairs on climate and biodiversity action (CBAN quarterly calls)
• Form partnerships with local and regional stakeholders and leaders
• Identify local advocacy opportunities, including finding landscape architects for local government committees, etc

Committee Responsibilities

Knowledge Sharing

• Develop and maintain a email list of climate action experts and volunteers
• Contribute information about climate impacts, solutions, and projects to ASLA National
• Build partnerships with local professional organizations and community organizations active in climate and biodiversity action

Advocacy

• Identify local legislative and regulatory opportunities to advance climate and biodiversity action; share those opportunities with ASLA National
• Identify local committees, climate / resilience plans, commissions that landscape architects could join; encourage applications
• Join or form coalitions with allied organizations
• Use ASLA National policies and resources to advocate for climate and biodiversity action at the chapter level
• Follow local issues and network with local climate and biodiversity experts

Education and Outreach

• Lead organization of chapter webinars, regional webinars, and in-person educational events related to climate and biodiversity action
• Use the Climate Action Field Guide for ASLA Members to engage members and firms in the advancement of climate and biodiversity action
• Share updates and accomplishments with members and the public through the chapter website, newsletters, and social media
• Reach out to local government representatives and include them in events

Collaboration  

• Collaborate with neighboring chapters on webinars and events.
• Share strategies and resources
• Participate in other chapter's annual meeting
• Co-develop a regional event

Chair Organizational Position

• Committee Chair: an officially recognized leadership position (even if non-voting) within the chapter (Or Climate and Biodiversity VP: an officially recognized leadership position within the chapter)
• Reports to the chapter’s leadership committee

Chair Responsibilities

• Lead the development of chapter climate and biodiversity action resources
• Lead the development of chapter webinars and educational events
• Co-develop regional webinars, events, and resources with other ASLA chapters
• Build relationship between the chapter and academic programs on action research
• Increase involvement of student ASLA chapters in chapter climate and biodiversity action
• Participate in Chapter Advocacy Days and Site Tours to focus policy makers’ attention on projects with climate and biodiversity benefits
• Join the ASLA Climate Action and Biodiversity Network Basecamp team to stay current on news and opportunities from the national ASLA Biodiversity and Climate Action Committee
• Share climate action resources and strategies in the ASLA Climate and Biodiversity Action Network Basecamp
• Encourage and recognize professional and student member climate and biodiversity projects, through a dedicated award

Key Resources

These resources guide ASLA chapters on climate and biodiversity action.

Resources for all Chapter members

ASLA Climate and Biodiversity Action Plan (2026-2030)
Hub for the new plan in development

ASLA Climate Action Plan (2022-2025)
Hub for the plan and related research and resources, including:

• Practice and operations guides
• Product guides
• Survey findings
• Research
• Videos
• Webinar series

ASLA Field Guide to Climate Action for ASLA Members
Guide for practitioners on how to design and implement climate and biodiversity strategies

Economic Benefits of Landscape Architecture and Nature-based Solutions
Three studies on how to talk to policymakers and clients about the benefits of climate and biodiversity work

ASLA Biodiversity and Climate Action 101 Webinar Series
Free for ASLA members

Resources for Chapter Committee Chairs

Climate and Biodiversity Action Network Chairs and Representatives Roster

Climate and Biodiversity Action Discussion Guide for Chapters
Climate and Biodiversity Action Webinar Planning Guide
Climate and Biodiversity Action Event Planning Guide
Climate and Biodiversity Action Video Series

Please reach out to propractice@asla.org for additional questions.