Natural Capital: Accounting for Landscape Architecture
Queries/Drafts due date: May 16, 2025
Final Copy due date: July 14, 2025
Guest Editor: Rasmus Astrup, SLA
Landscape architecture as a profession is facing a paradigm shift. Gone are the days when projects gained approval based solely on professional merit. In this age of economic rationality, the qualitative value of landscape architecture is often assessed in terms of its quantitative return: How much does it cost; how much money can it generate?
In this new reality we must understand the emergence of the term “Natural Capital.” Natural Capital refers to Earth's natural resources – forests, soil, water and air – that enable essential ecosystem services. Natural Capital Accounting (NCA) quantifies these services in economic terms, enabling their integration into policy and decision-making. In recent years, NCA has been increasingly used by governments and agencies to enhance resilience, sustainability and biodiversity, while supporting economic growth.
In Canada, legislative initiatives underscore this commitment:
- Nature Accountability Bill (2024): Seeks to enshrine Canada's commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity into law and promote natural capital in policy and planning.
- Partnership on Cooperation on Natural Capital Accounting (2023): A collaboration with Australia and the U.S to develop NCA methodologies and integrate them into national economic accounts and decision-making.
As climate change and biodiversity loss intensify, the value NCA is increasingly important in shaping policy, guiding funding and influencing design. For landscape architects, understanding and leveraging natural capital is essential. By learning the tools and becoming advocates for natural capital value, our profession remains a driving force in creating resilient, livable, sustainable and economically viable landscapes.
For this issue of Landscape|Paysages, guest edited by Rasmus Astrup, design principal of the renowned Danish landscape studio SLA, we ask contributors to share the insights, tools, data and inspiration used to integrate natural capital into their projects and practice. We want to demystify the economic processes that guide many landscape projects, and create a practical “handbook” to equip the profession with effective arguments and information, making the strongest case for green, adaptive, livable and biodiversity-focused solutions. Consider:
- What stories, lessons, tools (e.g., InVEST, i-Tree, SolVES), strategies or data can you share to inspire others to champion the value of nature-based solutions in their work?
- How do you make the case for sustainable solutions in your work? Whether advocating for biodiversity-focused designs, leveraging tools such as Natural Capital Accounting, or communicating the economic and social benefits of green infrastructure, what specific data, arguments or strategies have worked (or not worked) for you?
- How have you seen landscape architects play in influencing municipal, regional and national policies related to natural capital? How can they advocate for green infrastructure and biodiversity within regulatory frameworks?
- What emerging skills and interdisciplinary collaborations are needed for landscape architects to lead in the valuation and management of natural capital?
- What ethical dilemmas arise when assigning economic value to natural resources?
This is your opportunity to shape the future of the profession in the middle of this paradigm shift by equipping your peers with the knowledge and confidence to advocate for green solutions. Together, we can build a professional culture that empowers every landscape architect to lead the charge for a greener, more livable and more sustainable future – one project, argument and idea at a time.
Submission Details and Guidelines for Contributors
We welcome a range of formats, including:
- Feature Articles: In-depth explorations of 1,200–1,500 words.
- Prologue Articles: Short reflections or provocations of 300–500 words.
- Case Studies: Examples of projects that integrate natural capital valuation in practice.
- Interviews: Conversations with practitioners, policymakers or academics engaging with natural capital.
- Visual Content: Infographics, maps and other visuals that illustrate the value of natural capital.
- Illustrations: Supply 10-12, high-resolution images (300 dpi) for feature articles and 2-3 for shorter pieces, with captions and photo credits. Further photo guidelines available upon request.
- Biography: Include a brief bio (~50 words), a photograph, your preferred email address, and a mailing address for complimentary copies. Use this space to share your connection to the issue’s theme or your contribution.
Submission Process
- Queries/Drafts Due: May 16, 2025
- Final Copy Due: July 14, 2025
Please send article ideas, abstracts, or drafts to:
Laurie Blake, Managing Editor: lp@csla-aapc.ca