Current sustainability doctrines emphasize efficient and effective resource use as well as ecosystem restoration and protection. For example, the Ceres Principles cite protection of the biosphere, sustainable use of natural resources, and environmental restoration; the Draft Compact for a Sustainable Bay Area encourages preservation and restoration of the region’s natural assets including San Francisco Bay and its associated habitats, farmland, open space and air and water quality; the Hannover Principles call up on us to “Insist on rights of humanity and nature to co-exist in a healthy, supportive, diverse and sustainable condition.” How do these lofty ideals transfer to the landscape and natural areas of corporate and residential properties?

The goal of a sustainable landscaping practice is to transition to a landscape design which requires the least amount of maintenance inputs while generating desired outputs - such as aesthetic value, habitat, recreation, watershed values, and so forth. While not every landscape can be solely a native-plant community, one can model natural systems for design inspiration. Established landscapes can be incrementally modified and maintenance practices altered to mimic native ecosystem processes thus approaching a more sustainable landscape management regime.

Ideally, five elements of ecological sustainability must be included in any sustainable landscape program, namely:

• Respect for the existing natural ecological frames.This includes consideration for the natural landscape adjacent to or within a developed landscape environment, and an acknowledgement of its intrinsic value. Restoration of the native areas should be considered a priority.


• Minimization of non-recyclable waste and pollution from landscape practices, and maximization of practices that have the most regenerating effect on the landscape, its flora and fauna, and on the larger ecosystem.


• Sustainable use of resources such as water, air, soil, and fossil fuels.


• Monitoring programs that measure: (1) cycling of inputs and outputs in the landscape, (2) targeted use of recaptured and recycled materials, and
  (3) impacts to the land and habitat.


• Based on the results of the monitoring programs, develop new landscape management practices for efficient resource use within sound ecological guidelines.

A sustainable landscape promotes not only a resource efficient system, but also a philosophy that recognizes bio-centric equality and works within the greater context of deeper ecology. By working within these environmental ethics and applying Best Management Practices, natural resources will be enhanced and protected. Routine site tasks will shift from task-based to knowledge based activities.  In summary, sustainable landscaping aligns the values of property owners, their employees, the landscape management company, and the greater community and takes much needed affirmative action for the environment.

Copyright Linda J. Novy and Associates and Gardeners Guild, Inc.

* “The Next Industrial Revolution” by William McDonough and Michael Braungart, Atlantic Monthly, October 1998. Describes philosophies around technical and biological metabolisms and closed loop systems, “waste equals food” philosophies, and applying nature’s cycles to industry.

Click here to Download the Principles of Sustainable Landscape Management document (Word doc)