Exploring the role of Landscape Architecture in policy and practice at NetworkNature Annual Event “Upscaling Nature-based Solutions in policy and practice”, 27 September 2022
On 27th September 2022, IFLA Europe organised a parallel session during the NetworkNature Annual Event taking place in Brussels, Museum of Natural Sciences, Belgium, with the title of “Nature based solutions:Exploring the role of Landscape Architecture in policy and practice”.
The annual event was organised by NetworkNature Consortium in cooperation with IUCN and ICLEI. It was a unique opportunity to learn more about the state-of-the-art
developments in Nature-based Solutions (NBS) practice & policy in Europe, and to share the knowledge of landscape architects with the NBS community and the European Commission.
After the welcome words by IFLA Europe President Katerina Gkoltsiou, Didier Vancutsem IFLA Europe VP Professional Practice introduced the keynote speakers Michiel Van Driessche, Principal Landscape architect at Felixx Landscape architects Rotterdam, together with Nadya Nilina, Project manager Felixx. Michiel described in a very attractive way the paradigm shift of the landscape architecture emerging from engineering, moving to admiration of nature, by creating performative nature. He posed the essential question of speaking about Nature Based Systems and not anymore Nature Based Solutions, from conservation towards restoration and creation. This approach was illustrated by several landscape architecture projects, focusing on cultural, natural and circular systems.
He was followed by Katerina Gkoltsiou, IFLA Europe President, who presented the Landscape Architect’s role towards Nature Based Solutions, by demonstrating several well-known landscape architecture projects in Europe, and thus promoting the holistic vision of landscape architecture in using NBS.
Etienne Aulotte, Chief of Department Public Spaces at Brussels Environment, described the strategies developed by the Brussels Region by implementing NBS, and reported about the challenges of integrating with the current urbanistic regulations.
Benjamin Caspar, Officer at EU Commission DG Environment, closed the presentations with a short reflection on the role of the Green Deal policy and the current and future role of landscape architects in the implementation of the EU policies and the NBS principles. The parallel session was well attended, the lively debate and questions between the speeches indicate the key role of landscape architects in the implementation of the NBS.
Conclusions of the session were delivered in the plenary by Didier Vancutsem, parallel session rapporteur: NBS need to be simple, as they should be inspired by Nature,
without big investments in infrastructure and construction costs.
IFLA Europe would like to thank again NetworkNature for offering the opportunity to organise this parallel session and we are looking forward to future cooperation.
Contact information: For more information, please contact
IFLA Europe Secretariat, secretariat@iflaeurope.eu
Presentations from the event are available here below.
