Soil & Water Conservation Society Lauds Landscape Architects

In our ongoing interview series with environmental organizations, LASN spoke with a Board member from the Soil & Water Conservation Society (SAWC Society), about their position on Landscape Architects. Frederick Steiner, a planner and professor at Arizona State University, said that the SAWC Society has had a "friendly relationship" with Landscape Architects.

Serving as SAWC Society's liaison to ASLA, Steiner also stated that he has worked with several Landscape Architects and they have been frequent contributors to their journal and at their meetings. He believes that not only do "Landscape Architect's play a vital role in [responsible] development," but they were the "leaders in the environmental [design] movement." "Landscape Architects relinquished their role in the 1980's," Steiner said, "due to reactions against ecological design and motions towards more functional design." He points out that this was "reflective of the Reaganesque times." However, he currently sees the Landscape Architect as being once again at the forefront of environmental design.

When LASN asked,"Who is responsible for development?", Steiner replied that "there is no single entity that is responsible...and anyone who thinks that is woefully naive." He said there is an "invisible, and not so invisible, web of responsible parties, [which includes] banks, lawyers, developers, homeowners and environmentalists." He feels that all of these entities must work together in order to really have sustainable development.

LASN is encouraged to know that the Soil & Water Conservation Society supports LA's in their efforts as leaders and promoters of responsible development. Steiner and members of the SAWC Society will continue to work with LA's in conservation and environmental issues.