Landscape Architect Articles

PGMS Input to Sustainability Initiative01-29-09 | News

PGMS Input to Sustainability Initiative

The SSI report outlines a consolidated list of services provided by natural ecosystems. For these services to be protected, restored and enhanced, the initiative purports that this will be made possible only through sustainable land development and management practices.

In response to a request for comments and suggestions from the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SSI) on its ?EUR??,,????'?????<

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From a grounds management perspective, PGMS was pleased to see the SSI emphasis placed on stewardship. The SSI report states that one of the guiding principles of a sustainable site would be to ?EUR??,,????'?????<

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Include the SSI in the U.S. Green Building Council Strategic Plan.
Clearly define short- and long-term cost implications of the landscape management plan.
Acknowledge the evolving nature of the document; given the ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Establish a timeline for evaluating the impact of the Initiative using feedback from the PGMS and similar stakeholders (possibly 2 years after the pilot projects phase).

Consider requiring landscape architects and related disciplines to provide drawings that show what their plans should look like in ten years.

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Emphasize that the design and management of irrigation systems should strongly configure to site specific constraints and local conditions.

Encourage the annual top dressing of turf with organic materials to minimize the use of chemical fertilizers.

Consider giving education credit for the sharing of information with garden clubs and neighborhood associations.

Require the implementation of an Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM).

In addition to its 10 general recommendations, PGMS also offered 10 specific fine-tuning recommendations to areas in which it was fundamentally in agreement. These included:

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Recyclable Materials ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Landscape Maintenance Equipment/Equipment Maintenance ?EUR??,,????'?????<

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Other Potential Maintenance Issues/Pollutants and Toxins ?EUR??,,????'?????<

In addition to Mr. Jackson, other members of the PGMS serving on its Sustainability Sites Initiative Task Force are: Carl Avery, DGM, University of California-Davis; Tom Dew, Texas A&M University; Michael Gildea, Chevy Chase Club; Jock Robertson, E.G. Reinsch, Inc.; and Dan Schied, University of Rochester.

For further information contact PGMS at 410-223-2861, pgms@assnhqtrs.com or visit the Web site at www.pgms.org.