Maintaining Biodiversity: Barriers and Interventions for Large-Scale Public Landscapes

Hosted by: Landscape Architecture Foundation

Zoom Webinar

Large, naturalistic and other designed landscapes have the potential to support rich ecosystems, with higher plant species diversity creating complex habitats for other species. But there is a void in our understanding of how to maintain and steward these landscapes over time. This is especially true in large public landscapes where managers are reluctant to deviate from familiar, conventional design and maintenance approaches that prioritize predictability over ecological complexity.

The sixth LAF Research Grant in Honor of Deb Mitchell was awarded to “Keeping Up: Maintenance and Management of Ecologically Vibrant Landscapes.” This 12-month research project investigated the maintenance-related challenges to creating habitat and increasing biodiversity in large-scale public and institutional landscapes, which typically face limited maintenance budgets yet serve diverse and often disadvantaged communities. Through case studies and surveys of landscape professionals across the United States, the researchers catalogued current management approaches, identified systemic obstacles, and explored successful strategies that support biodiversity, including alternative funding models, staff training programs, community stewardship programs, and innovative maintenance practices.

In this webinar, the Principal Investigators will share their research process and present their findings, which will empower landscape architects, as well as maintenance and management professionals, to advocate for, design, and sustain ecologically vibrant public and institutional landscapes.