Climate Action

FRI-A03: Unlocking the Economic Value of Landscape Architecture: A Cross-sector Research Agenda

Friday, September 18, 2026

9:00 AM - 10:15 AM PT

1.50 PDH, LA CES/non-HSW

Speaker(s)

Jennifer Egan

Program Manager, Environmental Economics & Conservation Finance
Environmental Finance Center, University of Maryland
College Park, Maryland
Torey Carter-Conneen, Hon. ASLA

CEO
ASLA
Megan Barnes, ASLA

Senior Program Manager
Landscape Architecture Foundation
Washington, District of Columbia

How can landscape architects better demonstrate economic return? To address this challenge, ASLA, the Landscape Architecture Foundation, and the University of Maryland have identified new research and collaboration pathways for practitioners, academics, and allies. Learn how to contribute to an emerging community-wide effort.

Learning Outcomes:

Assess the state of research into the economic benefits of landscape architecture and nature-based solutions.
Identify current data and methodology obstacles limiting the collection of economic benefit data.
Develop strategies to improve economic benefits data collection and analysis within landscape architecture projects.
Learn how to partner with allied professions, policy makers, and non-profit organizations to advance economic benefits research.