IFLA World Congress

Our annual congress brings together landscape architects from around the world for a dynamic exchange of knowledge, ideas, and best practices. The congress serves as a powerful reminder of the crucial role of landscape architecture in addressing global challenges such as climate change, rapid urbanization, and the need for equitable and inclusive communities.

A Voice at the COPs

IFLA actively participates in COPs. In 2024, it participated in COP16 on biodiversity, COP29 on climate change, and COP16 on desertification. Led by Pamela Conrad and Kotchakorn Voraakhom, IFLA launched the Works With Nature guide in collaboration with the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) at COP29. Our presence at these critical summits underscores our commitment to environmental stewardship and highlights the vital role of landscape architects in mitigating climate change, conserving biodiversity, and combating desertification.

Strengthening Ties with UN Agencies

We aim to strengthen ties with UN agencies through initiatives like the signing of an MoU with UN-Habitat to address urgent urban challenges by leveraging landscape architecture to design resilient, sustainable, and inclusive urban spaces. We have also forged stronger partnerships with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Urban Health Programme.

Working Alongside Our Global Partners

We have established impactful MoUs and partnerships with key organizations such as the World Green Infrastructure Network (WGIN), the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA), the Urban Biodiversity and Design Network (URBIO), the International Society for Urban Health (ISUH), the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH), ISOCARP (International Society of City and Regional Planners), and the International Union of Architects (UIA). Together with the ISOCARP and the UIA, IFLA is the founding member of the Circular Cities Network (CCN). These partnerships amplify our collective voice and expand our capacity to address critical global issues.

IFLA Awards

We celebrate the exceptional contributions of our members through award programs, including the prestigious Jellicoe Award, which was bestowed upon Günther Vogt in 2025, and the IFLA President’s Award, presented to Hal Moggridge in 2025.. Additionally, regional awards such as the IFLA AAPME Awards and the IFLA Middle East Landscape Awards recognize design excellence, innovation, and the transformative power of landscape architecture. 

IFLA Global Studio

Our Global Studio Programme (GSP) launched in 2024 represents our first step toward integrating global landscape architecture academia. In 2024, through four student charrettes tied to major events across four IFLA regions, the program fostered future leadership and established a global network of educational institutions. With participation from 20 universities and 40 students, this initiative has been incredibly successful.

Advocacy and Outreach

IFLA advocates for the role of landscape architects in creating sustainable and resilient communities. We engage with policymakers, industry leaders, and the public to promote the value of our profession and its contributions to a better future. Our regions actively lobby for professional advancements and organize numerous meetings to highlight the importance of the profession. Additionally, we have launched the IFLA Pairing North-South Project to bridge the gap between the Global North and the Global South.

Education and Capacity Building

To support the next generation of landscape architects, we have mapped global educational programs to better allocate resources. Our three standing committees— Communications and External Relations (CER), Education and Academic Affairs (EAA), and Professional Practice and Policy (PPP)—organize workshops, seminars, and public lectures to raise awareness of landscape architecture’s role in addressing contemporary challenges.

Global Recognition and Accreditation of Educational Programmes

The growth of the landscape architectural profession will depend on educating the future generation of professionals to the highest possible standard. We have now rolled out our new global education recognition and accreditation programme. This will enable the verification of equivalence between different landscape architectural programmes, ensuring that all recognised programmes meet IFLA’s global educational standards, making the movement of graduates less demanding and time-consuming, primarily when it occurs across the IFLA-recognised and accredited programmes. profession globally. This includes diversifying income streams and presenting ourselves as reliable partners to the outside world.

Professional Global Standards, Ethics and Registration

The challenges faced by landscape architects can vary across regions and countries due to differing contexts, regulatory frameworks, and cultural attitudes towards landscapes. Understanding and navigating these variations while maintaining professional standards and ethical practices is challenging. We should work on global professional standards and registration, allowing landscape architects to travel and enrich their knowledge with other ways of thinking and doing.