Landscape Series: A Declaration of Concern for the Summit on Landscape Architecture and the Future
50 years ago, in 1966, a small group of landscape architects met in Philadelphia to share their concern for the quality of the American environment and its future. They prepared a “declaration of concern” with the hope of affecting positive long-term change. Here is a bit of what they said:
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“We urge a new, collaborative effort to improve the American environment and to train a new generation of Americans equipped by education, inspiring example and improved organizations to help create that environment.”
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“A sense of crisis has brought us together. What is merely offensive or disturbing today threatens life itself tomorrow. We are concerned over misuse of the environment and development which has lost all contact with the basic processes of nature.”
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“Most urban Americans are being separated from visual and physical contact with nature in any form. All too soon life in such polluted environments will be the national human experience.”
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“Like the architect, the landscape architect practices an historic art. However, the landscape architect is uniquely rooted in the natural sciences. ‘They are’ essential in maintaining the vital connection between man and nature.”
Within just a few paragraphs, Campbell Miller, Grady Clay, Ian L. McHarg, Charles R. Hammond, George E. Patton, and John O. Simonds summed up the environmental concerns that they foresaw decades ago and that we still witness today.
Read the full declaration here
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Summit on Landscape Architecture and the Future
On June 10-11, 2016, in honor of this historic anniversary, The Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) celebrated by organizing a massive event; a summit of concerned and preeminent thinkers to convene to discuss their view on how Landscape Architects can contribute, if not lead, to set a positive course for the 21st century. 
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend this important summit, as I am currently traveling. Yet, as part of LAF’s Olmsted Scholars, we were asked; urged to contribute our own declaration to be included in the summit. Although my essay wasn’t accepted into the mix, I have a blog- so, I can still put some thoughts into the ether and add in my own way.
Therefore, in an era of quickening change and even quicker interconnecting of cultures, ideas and opinions, I submit, for your consideration, my thoughts on the future of our future and how the passion I call my profession can help lessen the impact our build cities have on the natural world.
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PROGRESS v PRINCIPLE: THE CHALLENGE OF CHANGE
by Chris Cabezas
Change is inevitable. Cities develop, landscapes grow, empires fall and stars explode. Transformation, whether constructive or destructive, is a natural and fundamental universal process that also shapes and reshapes the earth and all the inhabitants on this small blue world we call home. Yet, in the face of this anticipated change, people are creatures of habit, seeking stability and predictability in order to comfortably navigate through their fluctuating environments. We search for patterns of process and dissect systems into components to understand our surroundings. We long for order and we fear the unknown; i.e. change.
Many of the challenges we foresee over the next 50 years are directly related to change. Some of these obstacles are new to our times, yet several are as old as civilization itself. In order to confront new challenges, we must dissect and understand deep-rooted mental archetypes formed from antiquated paradigms. Of the many trials we face, there are two particular concerns that are related to progress, as well as their intrinsic, underlying ideologies.
PROGRESS
Unique and directly associated to our modern industrial capabilities is the lightning speed at which change is happening. Whether this rapid transition is considered constructive, as in the areas of technology, information, transportation and education; or destructive, as in population growth, animal extinction, habitat destruction and pollution; the velocity at which changes are taking place is occurring faster than ever before. This swiftness is a testament to our remarkable (and frightening) capability as a species. It also gives hope to our ability to evolve in a sustainable manner and improve some of the problems we have created. What is of concern, nevertheless, is the unruly and uncontrollable changes that centers too heavily on short-term gains and completely disregards long-term adverse effects.
PRINCIPLE
An ever-changing environment can be expected and is a natural process. However, what makes our ability to adapt to this adjustment alarming is when a deep-seeded model, or principle, many embrace is fundamentally flawed. This skewed belief, whether consciously or unconsciously held, places the human race above, or removed from nature. This concept is not a new paradigm. For centuries kings and conquerors, cities and civilizations have continuously devastated nature without much concern for, or even cognizant thought about our interconnectivity, and therefore, the long-term unanticipated changes incurred.
Moreover, in our present times, one cannot be but fairly disturbed when observing the same disconnected views and denial large organizations, governments and some leaders hold toward the direct relationship humans (and their policies) have with nature; not the least dealing with environmental processes, climate change, energy consumption and social and community issues. These aspects of both local and international concern, though not obvious, can be directly and indirectly related to matters of economy, political stability and national security.
DECLARATION
Every profession, institution, organization and individual has the ability to affect positive change. What is needed, however, is a catalyst to help strengthen the enlightened view of our inter-relationship to nature and each other, and how each person is responsible to act with environmental ethics and concern for our planet.
As Landscape Architects, we can be this facilitator for positive change in the 21st century. We must make a proclamation to act with purpose and take responsibility as both teachers and the shapers of our future. We, at the core of our profession, are unifiers, connectors, the thread onto the needle, the stitch between clothes of differing colors. Our business is to broadly and creatively link other, disengaged components together to generate a synergy; a syncosytem: an ecology greater than the sum of its parts.
We, Landscape Architects, bond old to new and past to present. We reimagine, reuse, restore, renew, revitalize, regenerate and repurpose. We enhance everything from transportation to evapotranspiration. We lead teams that plan cities and plant trees that feed people. We teach homeowners to use native species and protect endangered habitats from developers. Our craft is an art and our core is a science. We design with passion and build with care. We are the organic glue that connects architecture to nature. As such, we must plant the metaphorical seed of positive change into the world everyday and promote our direct link to nature and solidify our role in this rapidly shifting environment.
Constructive change and positive action must begin with the question of “why” before “how.” The “why” must be driven by a core value. Landscape Architecture must make a declaration to continually enhance our connection with nature, teach people, both public and private, and design with this vital relationship to nature in mind.
The good news is that a fundamental paradigm shift in the greater American society is already occurring. Our connection with nature is deepening and can be seen with the rising popularity of inward-thinking activities such as yoga, meditation and spiritual retreats, as well as in more quantifiable areas, as with tiny living, organic gardens, wind and solar power, off-the-grid living, electric cars, public transportation and the banning of plastic bags. Such activities, along with the unobstructed access to critical information on the Internet, are strengthening these core values.
SUPPOSITION
Change is inevitable and part of a natural process. We, as human animals are part of this natural process of alteration and are here, NOW, exactly how nature intended. We are nature, therefore, we affect nature. Yet, in these modern times, the speed of uncertain change is the most critical challenge we face. Only with the correct fundamental concepts of our connection to nature (and each other) can we navigate this rocky terrain and make the crucial decisions that will lead to positive change.
As Landscape Architects, we can teach this underlying philosophy of connection and build with sensitivity and purpose. Our role is an essential one. We are trained to see the big picture and link disjointed, fragmented pieces of a socio-ecological puzzle together. We use science and research to inform, and aim to minimize the effect on the land from rapid development and unrestrained progress. Simultaneously, we tap into an enlightened and holy realm that creates living art and deepens our understanding and relationship to our natural surroundings. This is the century for Landscape Architecture to pull up the metaphorical shutters that blind us, let in the natural life-sustaining sunlight and create a more brilliant, connected, cleaner, safer future.
If you’re interested in learning more about the summit, check out the twitter hashtag #LAFsummit. Also, visit the amazing landscape architecture blog Land8, American Society of Landscape Architects, Landscape Architecture Magazine, Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF), and my alma mater Florida International University Landscape Architecture and Environmental Urban Design.