Landscape Architects Will Advocate for Nature in Cities at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity

Delegates will highlight key role of landscape architects in achieving the UN Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework 2030 targets

Left: Jennnifer Dowdell, FASLA / Right: MaFe Gonzalez, ASLA

ASLA will be represented by two delegates at the UN Convention Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Yerevan, Armenia. ASLA is an official observer of the UN CBD Conference of Parties (COP) process.

ASLA's delegates:

• Jennifer Dowdell, FASLA, Practice Leader: Landscape Ecology, Planning & Design, Biohabitats; Co-Chair, ASLA Climate & Biodiversity Action Committee Biodiversity Subcommittee; Biodiversity Lead, ASLA Climate & Biodiversity Action Plan Task Force
• MaFe Gonzalez, ASLA, Landscape Designer and Botanist, BASE Landscape Architecture; Member, ASLA Climate & Biodiversity Action Plan Advisory Group; Co-Chair, Northern California ASLA Climate & Biodiversity Action Committee

ASLA's delegates will be joined by delegates from the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA):

• Sohyun Park, ASLA, PhD, Associate Professor, Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Connecticut
• Indra Purs, President, IFLA Europe

"Landscape architects are uniquely positioned to translate the Global Biodiversity Framework into action in cities and communities around the world. We need to accelerate our collective effort to achieve the 2030 targets and de-escalate the biodiversity crisis. Through our planning and design work, we are ready to help communities protect, restore, and enhance their rich biodiversity heritage," said ASLA CEO Torey Carter-Conneen, Hon. ASLA.

"World leaders need to make much greater progress towards the global 2030 biodiversity targets. At the Biodiversity COP, we will push for increased investment in urban nature, which too often gets overlooked. We can leverage more urban parks and recreation areas, natural systems like rivers, and commercial and residential property to protect and restore more urban biodiversity," said Aida Curtis, FASLA, PLA, Chair, ASLA Climate & Biodiversity Action Committee.

ASLA 2026 Landmark Award. Lurie Garden at Millenium Park, Chicago, Illinois. GGN / GGN

At COP17, ASLA will host Biodiverse Cities: Landscape Designers Addressing the Crisis, a session in the Upper Stage of the publicly-accessible Green Zone on October 19, 1.30-2.30 pm, Central European Time / 7.30-8.30 am Eastern Standard Time.

In this session, case studies and resources from the U.S. will show how biodiversity can help cities improve resilience, advance action on climate change and social inequities, and support an improved relationship with the natural world.

ASLA will also co-host Advancing Landscape Architecture for Urban Biodiversity to Ensure Human and Environmental Health, a joint session with the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) and U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in the Upper Stage of the Green Zone on October 22, 2.45-3.45 pm, Central European Time / 8.45-9.45 am Eastern Standard Time.

In this interactive session, landscape architects, urban planners, and architects will provide a framework for reimagining the urban built environment as a refuge for biodiversity.

And in the Blue Zone on October 23, 2-3.30pm Central European Time / 8-9.30 am Eastern Standard Time, IFLA and Park will co-host Place-based and Urban Nature Futures, a session with the University of Southern California and Utrecht University. The session asks: How can we re-imagine urban landscapes to reverse biodiversity loss and create nature-positive futures?

ASLA 2026 Professional General Design Honor Award. The Gathering Place, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates / Elizabeth Felicella

COP17 will include the first major review of progress towards the 2030 goals and targets of the UN Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

Dowdell and Gonzalez will share the vision outlined in Landscape Architecture 2040: Climate & Biodiversity Action Plan. They will explain how landscape architects plan and design projects at all scales to combat the major drivers of biodiversity loss - the loss of habitat from destruction and fragmentation, invasive species, pollution, and climate change. They will outline how landscape architects advance the key goals and targets of the UN GBF:

1) Designing urban landscapes as ecological infrastructure. Landscapes can be planned and designed to provide multiple ecological functions in cities, like wildlife habitat, water cycle continuity, carbon sequestration, climate regulation, and nutrient cycling. These urban benefits can also extend to the regional level through ecological connectivity.

The role of landscape architects is to plan and design urban spaces at all scales to enhance native biodiversity. They also increase the capacity of the land to be resilient to climate change by responding to community needs and planting native plant communities.

This work helps achieve UN GBF Target 12.
Acacia Reservation Design-Build, Lyndhurst, Ohio. Biohabitats / David Ike Photography

2) Protecting existing biodiversity and restoring biodiversity. Protecting and restoring ecological function supports community health and well-being. Ecological restoration also creates positive feedback loops that reinforce forward momentum and enable more people, cultures, and wildlife to thrive.

The role of landscape architects is to work with communities to identify how ecosystems can be protected, then analyze how to enhance biodiversity. They plan and design in response to the needs of communities and ecosystems, addressing biodiversity by restoring soils, plant communities, and water systems in a holistic way.

This work helps achieve UN GBF Target 11.

Teaneck Creek Park Wetland Restoration, Teaneck, New Jersey. Biohabitats / David Ike Photography

3) Integrating nature-based solutions into landscapes. Nature-based approaches to address biodiversity loss and climate change provide greater co-benefits to communities, such as improved health and well-being and greater connection to nature.

The role of landscape architects is to plan and design nature-based solutions to address biodiversity loss and climate change at the same time. They use these solutions to engage with and educate communities about their rights to access nature and the rights of nature itself.

This work helps achieve UN GBF Target 11.
Concept plan for Yosemite Creek Daylighting. San Francisco, California. BASE Landscape Architecture

4) Collaborating with traditional knowledge holders and scientists. Indigenous leaders and scientific experts are key stakeholders who can help create solutions that are multidisciplinary and culturally grounded. It is important to honor the traditional ways of knowing and eco-centric worldviews of Indigenous communities.

The role of landscape architects is to engage these and other community stakeholders in dialogue and co-design.

This work helps achieve UN GBF Targets 20, 21, and 22.
ASLA Professional 2026 General Design Award. Knowledges and Design at Tekαkαpimək. Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Present and traditional homeland of the Penobscot Nation, Maine. Reed Hilderbrand / James Florio

5) Managing the impacts of non-native invasive plants. Healing landscapes impacted by invasive plant species can be achieved by designing with robust native plant palettes that strengthen landscape resilience and function.

The role of landscape architects is to plan and design with native plant communities and avoid the use of non-native invasive plant species.

This work helps achieve UN GBF Target 6.
Felton Library Discovery Park, which celebrates the San Lorenzo Creek. Felton, California. BASE Landscape Architecture.