COP 15, the UN Biodiversity Conference, will take place from 11-24 October in Kunming, China. The UK will host COP 26, the UN Climate Change Conference, in Glasgow from 1-12 November 2021.

The LI declared a climate and biodiversity emergency in 2019, and over the past year has published two important papers – Greener Recovery and Landscape for 2030 – as well as a Climate and Biodiversity Action Plan. These publications, together with a number of CPD events, have addressed the LI’s response to the twin emergencies from both a professional and a personal point of view.

The October edition of Landscape, the journal of the Landscape Institute, will be devoted to this topic. The journal will review the LI’s work to date, look at corporate as well as individual achievements, deepen our understanding of the climate and biodiversity emergencies; and look to the outcomes and impact of the international events later this year.

The journal is keen to look at the power of landscape architecture, planning, and management to contribute creatively in tackling climate change and biodiversity loss. We’re seeking contributions from students, academics, LI members, and registered practices, writing in both a personal and a professional capacity. Submissions of interest include:

• Climate adaptation and mitigation case studies
• Stories of individual behaviour change or challenges to established practice
• Abstracts on research work in progress
• Features on both academic and student projects

To discuss your ideas, please contact Commissioning Editor Paul Lincoln via paul.lincoln@landscapeinstitute.org or on +44 7957 740513.

The post Call for contributions to the LI’s COP 15 Biodiversity and COP 26 Climate Emergency journal first appeared on Landscape Institute.

The topic for the spring edition of Landscape is large-scale infrastructure.

From the Landscape of Power and the Landscape of Roads by Dame Sylvia Crowe to the landscapes of HS2, wind turbines and the creation of park cities, landscape practitioners have always designed at scale.

This edition will not only focus on the impact of designing complex landscapes, but will continue the journal’s quest to communicate the work of the profession through the lens of the climate emergency.

^{The Landscape of Power and The Landscape of Roads by Dame Sylvia Crowe demonstrate how landscape practitioners design at scale}

If you have a case study that specifically addresses both large-scale infrastructure and the climate emergency, please get in touch. The scheme can be built or planned and either international or UK-based. To discuss your ideas, please send a brief summary to Commissioning Editor Paul Lincoln.

The deadline is Wednesday 8 January 2020.

Thank you to readers who responded so enthusiastically to our call for images and stories about cobbles. The next issue, The Ground We Stand On, is published on 15 January.

The post Climate and large-scale infrastructure case studies sought for next Landscape journal first appeared on Landscape Institute.

The LI will communicate this with a series of events, articles and competitions that will bring to life the stories of the practitioners and projects that work to transform and connect people, place and nature.

LI members can also look forward to a new website section, charting 90 years of LI and landscape developments, with a focus on policy themes including food production, climate change, public housing and the history of health and landscape.

Take part: write for #LI90

As part of this, we want to hear from you! We’re calling for submissions and ideas around the development of landscape policy and practice over the past 90 years. If you are interested in writing for us, please contact us via LI90@landscapeinstitute.org.

The post A time of transformation: Celebrating #LI90 first appeared on Landscape Institute.

Dr Clare Rishbeth, Landscape Lecturer at University of Sheffield, explained that parks can play an important role in supporting wellbeing and connection for refugees and asylum seekers. The research project investigated how, demonstrated practical examples and case studies, and proposed courses of action that could improve access to and enjoyment of parks by displaced communities.

Speaking at the launch at the Young Foundation headquarters, Clare said: ‘Our project methods are founded on three principles: careful listening, learning from different contexts, and giving back so as to support change.’

During the course of the research, Clare and her colleagues conducted 16 interviews and many informal conversations with refugees and asylum seekers, and 35 interviews with a range of stakeholder groups from both the refugee sector (support and orientation services, conversation clubs and mental health services) and the green space sector (management, design, advocacy and community support). The study spanned locations in Sheffield, London and Berlin. In June, the LI invited Clare to present her initial findings at its 2017 Conference, Landscape as Infrastructure.

The project comprises research and a toolkit and resource book. For those who work directly with refugees and asylum seekers, the resource book will share information on how the use of public space can help to facilitate wellbeing and inclusion, and offers ideas for supporting positive experiences. For those involved in the planning, design or management of parks or other outdoor public spaces, the resource book gives insight into the experiences of refugee and asylum seeker park users, highlights relevant barriers and expectations, and offers ideas for engagement and inclusion approaches. And for those new in a city and eager to find out about initiatives and activities that you could join, there are ideas for opportunities that are available in parks and other open spaces.

For further details, including free downloads of the study and resources, visit refugeeswelcomeinparks.com.

The post New resources launched for professionals in refugee and green space sectors first appeared on Landscape Institute.