ASLA has announced Pamela Conrad, founder of Climate Positive Design, as the inaugural Biodiversity and Climate Action Fellow. Conrad will research landscape architecture strategies that are most effective in addressing the climate and biodiversity crisis, with a specific focus on underserved communities in the U.S.A. and worldwide.
“With Pamela’s expertise, we will be able to provide more in depth guidance and examples of successful nature-based solutions designed by landscape architects around the globe,” said Torey Carter-Conneen, CEO of ASLA. “To make the strongest case to decision-makers, it’s important we have the research to back up the solutions we know have a positive impact. Landscape architects have a vital role to play in addressing the twinned climate and biodiversity crises, because of their work with plants, land, water, and construction materials.”
“I am honored to participate in ASLA’s inaugural Biodiversity and Climate Action Fellowship. This builds upon our strong working relationship over the past several years. I am eager to advance more accessible nature-based guidance for all, particularly for underserved communities. It is my hope that this work elevates the awareness of the profession globally and scales-up our positive impacts around the world,” said Pamela Conrad.
Conrad is a renowned landscape architect. She founded Climate Positive Design and teaches at Harvard Graduate School of Design. Conrad is a member of several organizations, including the World Economic Forum Nature-Positive Cities Task Force and the IFLA Climate and Biodiversity Working Group. She was a Landscape Architecture Foundation Fellow for Innovation and Leadership and served as principal at CMG Landscape Architecture in San Francisco.
Conrad will work in partnership with ASLA’s Senior Manager of Climate Action, a newly dedicated role for Jared Green, Hon. ASLA, a veteran of the profession with deep knowledge of nature-based solutions.
Conrad’s fellowship will build on the ASLA Fund’s research into landscape architecture solutions to extreme heat with Dr. Daniella Hirschfeld, ASLA, PhD, Assistant Professor of Climate Adaptation Planning in the Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Department at Utah State University; and landscape architecture strategies to reduce biodiversity loss with Dr. Sohyun Park, ASLA, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Connecticut.