The CSLA commits to realize those goals by working, with its members and component associations, on the implementation of the CLC’s Principles:
- Recognize landscape as vital:
- Consider all people;
- Inspire stewardship;
- Expand knowledge;
- Show leadership.
The
CLC Initiative (CLCI) stemmed from CSLA’s and IFLA’s members recognition that landscapes around the globe, whatever their environmental and societal interests, or intrinsic cultural or vernacular value, are under constant threat, too often ignoring their importance for the sheer survival of humanity. While the CLC tackles the elaboration of shared values, principles and actions or all sort to improve our ways and overall knowledge on this vast subject for the landscape architects, one major issue is always sticking out as a weakness participating in this whole situation: an ignorance doubled by some insensitivity towards the unrecognized and too numerous undervalued landscapes.
This situation is made even more acute when we realize how varied our perception and valuation of open spaces can be influenced by culture, history, geographical and social differences, especially in a vast and diversified country like Canada. If the CSLA is to make a statement of shared values, principles and actions to all Canadians, the main “object of our profession” has to be better known and understood, presented and described in simple words without forgetting its intrinsic diversity and its continuous evolution, resilience.
Since this whole adventure is definitely not about stopping “progress” but about being better adjusted to each and every intervention context by offering more holistic perspectives and solutions based on a reliable comprehension of our working environments, it becomes critical to develop a broad comprehension of what is a “Landscape”.