While the practice of landscape architecture is relatively well established in the U.S. (38 practice acts; nine title acts; and only three misfit states), our brethren across the Atlantic, surprisingly, are significantly unregulated. According to a survey by the European Foundation for Landscape Architecture (EFLA) of its member countries,1 only the U.K., Portugal and Germany have the equivalent of a title act; however, all but two of the EFLA associations (France, Italy) have education requirements for their professional members.

To register for chartered status with the Landscape Institute, Mr. Wetherell explained that each member must complete a ?EUR??,,????'??minimum of 24 months of recognized practical training experience to augment their four years of formal education.?EUR??,,????'??

In case your are contemplating a move to the U.K., Mr. Wetherell has good news: ?EUR??,,????'??U.S. professionals have far more freedom in the U.K. than for British landscape architects in America; the only caveat being the successful application of the requisite work permit (much easier than obtaining a green card).?EUR??,,????'??

The EFLA

Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, the EFLA, or as its know in Brussels?EUR??,,????'??+La Fondation Europ????(C)enne pour l?EUR??,,????'???Architecture (FEAP)?EUR??,,????'??+is the international body for landscape architects on the continent.2 The landscape architect associations of 16 countries are members of the EFLA: the U.K.; Ireland; Spain; Portugal; France; Switzerland; Luxembourg; Italy; Greece; Germany; Belgium; the Netherlands; Denmark; Norway; Sweden; and Finland. The EFLA claims it has 10,000 members; 7,000 of which are classified as ?EUR??,,????'??professionals.?EUR??,,????'??

The EFLA?EUR??,,????'???s mission is to:

• ?EUR??,,????'??collaborate with the European Commission in the development of directives concerning the natural and man made environment, landscape architecture education and professional practice;
• promote the exchange of knowledge, technical information and encourage research;
• represent the interests of member associations to European Union institutions;
• encourage and promote professional practice and professional exchanges between member countries;
• promote landscape architecture education and encourage the development of landscape programs in higher education institutions while ensuring high standards and conformity with the objectives of the foundation;
• to coordinate and promote educational exchanges between member countries.?EUR??,,????'??

The EFLA?EUR??,,????'???s governing body is a six-member executive council that meets three or four times a year; one of those meetings is an annual general assembly at the end of the year. The council usually meets in Brussels, although it met with the southern European associations in 2001 in Barcelona, and with the German and Scandinavian associations near Amsterdam in 2002.

In May 2002, three executive council members supported the Italian National Association (AIAPP) at a conference in Rome devoted to the new Italian registration system. The concern, according to the EFLA, is that landscape architects working in Italy, regardless of nationality, may not be allowed to register with the association as landscape architects under the new system.

Notes:

1. In 2002, the EFLA, surveyed its country members and compiled the results in January 2003 (information for Belgium, Greece, Holland, and Switzerland was not received).
2. There is also an International Federation of Landscape Architects, which has existed, at least on paper, since September 1950. That organization is a topic for another article.