From We Declare in the May 2016 issue, five landscape architects, scholars, and advocates revisit “A Declaration of Concern” for the Landscape Architecture Foundation’s 50th anniversary celebration.

 
INTO AN ERA OF LANDSCAPE HUMANISM
BY GINA FORD, ASLA

Fifty years ago, the voice of our profession was eerily prescient, undeniably smart, and powerfully inspired. It was also, let?s admit it, almost entirely white and male.
I note this with no disrespect to the six incredible leaders of our profession who penned the Declaration of Concern. Clearly, their call?to reconcile the needs of humankind with sound knowledge and respect for the natural processes of our environment?is as relevant (or even more so) today as it was then. Equally, their edict for landscape architects to command the technical skill sets associated with natural resources and processes?geology, physiography, climatology, ecolog?remains of vital importance. Yet, as we look forward and consider the significance of climate change, demographic shifts, and income inequality, the Declaration?s ?man? as nature?s antagonist feels strangely abstract and incomplete. To maintain relevance over the next 50 years, the profession needs to demonstrate the highest level of natural systems expertise, but must devote equal attention to the human dimension of the equation. Accordingly, this response outlines some reasons we as a profession need to diversify our ranks, as practitioners need to sharpen ou...