The Society of Landscape Architecture Nigeria (SLAN) has restated its commitment to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2050 via the promotion of its practice.
The SLAN’s president, Mr Amos Alao, said this while speaking on Monday in Lagos.
The society had its 20th year anniversary over the weekend, where it reiterated the commitment to achieve the SDG in Nigeria by 2050.
The conference addressed critical topics such as landscape architecture, climate ariability, environmental degradation, adaptation, and mitigation strategies.
As an affiliate of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA), SLAN collaborates on a global scale to promote sustainable design and planning.
The society transitioned from NILA to the Nigerian Society of Landscape Architects (NSLA) and finally embraced Its present identity as SLAN.
Alao, noted that landscape architecture played a critical role in the contest of achieving the SDGs
“Over the weekend we officially celebrated two decades of our re-registration, marking 20 years in this new phase of our existence.
“We want Nigerians to discover the essence of landscape architecture.
“ It is more than just creating beautiful gardens and parks; it is a discipline that harmonizes nature and the built environment, shaping sustainable and vibrant spaces for generations to come.
“In the context of the SDGs, landscape architecture plays a crucial role in clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11).
Others such as consumption and production (SDG 12), climate action (SDG 13), life below water (SDG 14), life on land (SDG 15), and partnership for the goals (SDG 17) all align with the core principles of landscape architecture,” the president said
According to Alao, resilience to climate change is a critical aspect of the cities we need, and well-planned cities with substantial public spaces are vital.
“The shift to Nature-Based Solutions is an innovative approach by landscape architects to combat the challenges of climate change.
“The decline in green cover, both in cities and rural areas, is a growing concern with significant health implications.
“Landscape architects in Nigeria are at the forefront of addressing critical issues such as bio-diversity loss, flooding, hunger, urban heat islands, increased obesity cases, and respiratory diseases.
“ It is essential to dispel the misconception that landscape architecture is solely about gardening; it is a profession that addresses vital challenges and contributes to societal betterment,” he said.
The president reiterated that “functional landscape environments have been shown to reduce stress, improve life expectancy, enhance mental and physical health, boost cognitive performance, improve sleep quality, and reduce cancer risk.”
