Biodiversity and Climate Action Committee

The mission of the ASLA-NCC Biodiversity and Climate Action Committee is to advance the role of landscape architects in promoting biodiversity and mitigating and adapting to climate change. We foster opportunities for professionals to collaborate and share resources, experiences, and best practices with the broader community.

Gilead Park, Foster City, CA – Carducci Associates

Resources

National

CLIMATE AND BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN FOR ASLA MEMBERS

CLIMATE AND BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN FOR ASLA AND ASLA CHAPTERS

ASLA CLIMATE & BIODIVERSITY ACTION

ASLA CLIMATE AND BIODIVERSITY CASE STUDIES

ASLA CLIMATE & BIODIVERSITY RESOURCE GUIDES

ASLA CLIMATE & BIODIVERSITY WEBINARS

BIODIVERSITY PRIMER FOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS

DECARBONIZING THE DESIGN PROCESS

DECARBONIZING SPECIFICATIONS

COLLABORATING WITH INDUSTRY PARTNERS ON CLIMATE ACTION AND BIODIVERSITY

WORKS WITH NATURE

LANDSCAPE PERFORMANCE SERIES – CASE STUDY BRIEFS

Local

CLIMATE ACTION AIA CALIFORNIA

CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY – DESIGN BASICS
Offers practical guidance for ecological design using native plants:

  • Calscape Garden Planner for site-specific plant recommendations
  • Habitat maximization strategies
  • HOA-friendly and urban container garden templates

CALSCAPE – DESIGN IDEAS
Ready-to-use planting palettes for:

  • Pollinator patches
  • Shady tree canopies
  • Swale, privacy hedgerows, and contemporary entries
  • Includes plant quantities and seasonal interest planting

SAN FRANCISCO ESTUARY INSTITUTE – RESILIENT LANDSCAPE PROGRAM
A powerhouse of ecological data and planning tools for:

  • Shoreline and baylands resilience
  • Urban nature integration

  • Historical ecology and sediment science

  • Ecosystem carbon modeling and habitat monitoring

  • Biodiversity

Award-Winning Local Project Examples

BUILDING RESILIENCE: IMPLEMENTING A PRACTICAL CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

GILEAD PARK: FROM GRAY TO GOLD

Committee Members

Mariana Ricker
Mariana Ricker
Justin Richardson
Justin Richardson
Vanessa Lee
Vanessa Lee
Brodie Hegg
Brodie Hegg
Sam Dent
Sam Dent
Kristin Byrd
Kristin Byrd
Jennifer Cooper
Jennifer Cooper
Julia Higson
Julia Higson
Ben Kuchinsky
Ben Kuchinsky
Scotty Shoemaker
Scotty Shoemaker
Mafe Gonzalez
Mafe Gonzalez
CONTACT ASLA NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER

Upcoming and Past Events

Lunch with Leaders Applying the Climate & Biodiversity Action Plan: Dive Deep in Key Guides for Decarbonizing the Design Process and Designing for Biodiversity

March 24 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

ASLA-NCC Lunch with Leaders Biodiversity and Climate Action: Insights from the 2025 Award Winners

September 30, 2025 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Biodiversity & Climate Action Virtual Meet-up #1: Let’s All Be Climate Champions

January 19, 2024 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm