What do environmental organizations think about Landscape Architects? In our green decade of politically correct environmentalism, do Landscape Architects know what the environmental community thinks about their profession? Are environmental groups aware that many Landscape Architects have been at the forefront of practicing sustainable development? Finally, has the ASLA lived up to its duty of promoting Landscape Architects as sus-tainable designers and stewards of the land? LASN decided to find out the answers to these questions in a series of interviews with some of the most influential environmental organizations in the nation.

Sierra Club Speaks Out on the Urban Environment & Land-scape Architects

Since February 1986, the Sierra Club has officially adopted an Urban Environment Policy Statement. This policy states that "The Sierra Club is . . . concerned that urban areas, which consume the majority of our resources, be highly efficient and nonpolluting." The Statement goes on to list planning policies they support, such as "Conservation of Open Space, Protection and Enhancement of the Quality of Urban Life, Conservation of the Urban Infrastructure and the Wise Use of Resources and Safe Disposal of Waste." Most of these policies are directly affected by the work of Landscape Architects.

While the Sierra Club does have a policy statement on the urban environment, it has no "official" position on Landscape Archi-tects. Preston Schiller, Chair of the Urban Environment Policy Committee for the Sierra Club, commented that he is "favorably disposed" toward Landscape Architects and has known some professionally through his work with the Washington Coalition for Transportation Alternatives. Among the Landscape Architects mentioned was Richard Untermann, a Land-scape Architect and professor in the Landscape Architecture and Urban Design Programs at the University of Washington. Schiller says he has enjoyed working with Landscape Architects on alternative trans-portation solutions and is currently gearing up for an Alternative Transportation Conference in the Seattle area on September 10th.

When LASN asked the question, "Who is responsible for development?", Schiller an-swered that the "development community and especially Landscape Architects" should be responsible for planning and ensuring sustainable develop-ment. He also feels that "[development] in the last 20 years has been unsustainable and environmentally unsound." Schiller, along with those of us at LASN, hopes that Landscape Architects will continue to promote and provide sus-tainable urban environments as they achieve a more critical role within the community as leaders of responsible development.

For a copy of the Sierra Club's Urban Environment Policy, write to the Sierra Club, Public Affairs, 730 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA 94109 or call (415) 776-2211.