Report: Insights from ISSLD8 Keynote and Invited Speakers
The 8th International Symposium of Sustainable Landscape Development (ISSLD8) served as an inspiring platform where global experts shared ideas on addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and urban challenges through innovative and regenerative landscape approaches.
Prof. Alessandro Martinelli from Italy, now based in Taiwan, opened the symposium with a thought-provoking keynote on the evolution of landscape architecture. He traced the discipline’s origins to its role in bridging urban infrastructure with rural nature and emphasized that today’s challenges require revisiting these foundations. By rethinking how landscapes integrate cities and nature, he argued, planners and architects can develop sustainable solutions that respect both ecological integrity and human needs. Alessandro also congratulated IPB University for advancing landscape architecture education in the Asia-Pacific region, underlining the importance of global collaboration.
Prof. Noriko Akita from Japan, Vice Dean at Chiba University, delivered the second keynote, stressing interdisciplinary collaboration as essential in addressing climate change adaptation. Drawing on her extensive involvement with government committees and her experience in post-disaster recovery after the Great East Japan Earthquake, she showcased how coordinated efforts among communities, scientists, and policymakers create adaptive, resilient landscapes. Her insights highlighted the power of combining science, culture, and governance to achieve sustainability.
Prof. Nappy L. Navarra from the Philippines presented on the regeneration of wetlands, vital ecosystems that store carbon, protect against floods, and support biodiversity. He explained how these landscapes act as natural buffers and sustain human livelihoods but face severe threats from climate change, land conversion, and pollution. Prof. Nappy advocated for integrated restoration, long-term research, and community engagement to ensure wetlands continue to provide ecological and social benefits.
Prof. Shureen Faris Abd Shukor from Malaysia focused on designing therapeutic and culturally sensitive green spaces within redevelopment programs. She introduced trauma-informed design principles that help communities recover from crises, emphasizing the use of natural elements, accessibility, and cultural considerations to promote healing. Her presentation also stressed the role of green spaces in fostering social cohesion, enhancing mental health, and strengthening resilience against climate-related challenges.
Prof. Syartinilia from Indonesia highlighted the urgent conservation needs of migratory raptors, particularly the Oriental Honey-Buzzard, which serve as indicators of ecosystem health. She revealed how habitat degradation in Southeast Asia, combined with climate change and human pressures, threatens these species. Her talk called for regenerative landscapes, the creation of ecological corridors, and stronger international cooperation to protect migratory pathways and preserve biodiversity.
Together, these five speakers offered comprehensive insights that linked ecological regeneration, cultural sensitivity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community empowerment. Their presentations reinforced a central message: sustainable landscapes must be adaptive, inclusive, and globally coordinated to ensure a resilient future for both nature and humanity.
Summarized and reported by Manuntun Stiinjak, today 6 Aug 2025
