Brenna Castro Carlson, Senior Associate at @atlaslab, and co-investigator Haven Kiers of UC Davis have been selected for the @lafoundation Deb Mitchell Research Grant!
Keeping Up: Maintenance and Management of Ecologically Vibrant Landscapes
The biodiversity crisis is a top priority among landscape architects. Yet there is a critical knowledge gap between the design of high-biodiversity landscapes and the successful management and maintenance of these landscapes for long-term performance. Brenna and Haven will investigate the maintenance-related challenges to creating habitat and increasing biodiversity in large-scale public and institutional landscapes, which typically face limited maintenance budgets yet serve diverse and often disadvantaged communities. Through case studies and surveys of landscape professionals across the United States, the researchers will catalog current management approaches, identify systemic obstacles, and explore successful strategies that support biodiversity including alternative funding models, staff training programs, community stewardship programs, and innovative maintenance practices.
Bridging the current disconnect between ecological research and applied landscape management, this research project seeks to develop actionable, practical guidance for landscape professionals. Ultimately, they aim to empower landscape architects and land managers to catalyze fundamental shifts in how landscape maintenance is conceptualized, researched, and practiced to support high-biodiversity landscapes over the long-term.