SAT-A06: Islas y Canales Verdes: Land Conservation + Intercultural Design in South America

Saturday, October 11, 2025

11:00 AM - 12:15 PM CT

Location: New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Room R06-R07

1.25 PDH, LA CES/HSW, AICP, NY/HSW, FL

Speaker(s)

Carl Carlson, ASLA, PLA

Director NYC Studio
LaGuardia Design Group
New York, New York
Amanda Coen, ASLA, PLA

Landscape Architect + Educator
Independent / Udelar / Universidad ORT Uruguay
Montevideo, Montevideo
Matthew P. Ells, ASLA (he/him/his)

Associate Director of Parklands
Butler Parklands, Inc.
Huntington, New York

Large-scale land conservation and landscape architecture are closely related, yet rarely do the two work in concert with each other. This session provides a look at an atypical project type within the discipline, featuring an international focus that brings together public, private, and nonprofit partners.

Learning Outcomes:

Foster an understanding of the general history of land conservation and public access design in South America and the challenges faced.
Provide inspiration for alternative roles that landscape architects can take within philanthropic organizations and NGOs and as independent practitioners working in underrepresented regions of the world.
Learn approaches to designing the design process and implementing projects in unconventional, remote, rural locations where resources and labor are often restricted.
Gain an awareness of the importance of adaptability, flexibility, and local partnerships when addressing cross-cultural nuances and challenges that arise in international design work.