ReScape is addressing climate change by providing a regenerative, nature-based whole systems watershed foundation for landscaping education, workforce development and policy.
* JOIN OUR CLIMATE RESOURCES CAMPAIGN
* JOIN OUR CLIMATE RESOURCES CAMPAIGN
ReScape is launching a bold $500,000 Climate Resources Campaign from 2025 to 2030, a call to action that confronts the climate crisis head-on. More info about our 5x5 Campaign here!
Our Vision
Diverse Workforce Training
ReScape's Diverse Workforce Development Program (DWDP) creates a future where regenerative landscaping drives sustainable development through equitable workforce training. Our nature-based, whole systems approach empowers individuals, companies, and agencies to transform landscapes into thriving ecosystems. We equip professionals to tackle climate challenges while driving economic success. ReScape creates a demand for our work by educating and working with public agencies and municipalities, businesses and communities who hire our 8 Principles professionals trained in policy-driven landscape standards and practices.
Climate Equity
ReScape's whole systems foundation requires that landscaping and land use must include communities of concern, those lacking access and unequally affected by a warming planet. Too much planning is based on historical models that are no longer working. We must listen deeply and work with communities, not on behalf of them, engaging in authentic partnership that recognizes the profound wisdom held within traditional ecological practices and ancestral ways of knowing. Our approach honors the fact that many communities have been stewarding land sustainably for generations. The only workable climate change solutions call in a new map that weaves together ancient wisdom with contemporary innovation, and includes racial, environmental and socioeconomic justice as foundational principles for regenerative land stewardship.
Advocacy & Policy
ReScape advocates for state and regional policies, permits and ordinances that encourage and enable implementation of and compliance in regenerative land use. Landscapes produce 12% of GHG emissions. Opportunities exist to reduce emissions and increase the potential to sequester carbon from the atmosphere by enhancing sinks. At a time when climate change, coupled with biodiversity loss, has created a profound, existential planetary emergency, there is an urgent need for the ‘nature-based solutions’ provided by restored and climate positive landscapes. Our policy focus creates the framework for adoption of legislation at governmental and civic levels to implement regenerative principles that address earthscaping climate change issues.
Sustainable or Regenerative?
ReScape has moved away from sustainable landscaping practices. While sustainability and regeneration share common goals of environmental and social well-being, they differ significantly in their approach and scope.
Sustainability emphasizes maintaining balance and minimizing harm, often focusing on reducing negative impacts and conserving resources to meet current needs without compromising future generations. In contrast, regeneration is proactive and restorative, aiming to create systems that not only sustain but also improve and replenish the environment, communities, and economies.
For example, a sustainable approach might focus on reducing water usage in landscaping, whereas a regenerative approach would prioritize designing landscapes that actively recharge aquifers, enhance biodiversity, and sequester carbon.
Regeneration sees humans as participants in the ecosystem, not just consumers or managers, and seeks to align human activity with nature’s inherent capacity for renewal.
By shifting from sustainability to regeneration, we evolved from “doing less harm” to “creating positive impact,” unlocking potential to not only combat climate change but to heal the planet—restoring degraded ecosystems, revitalizing local economies, and fostering resilient, thriving communities.
According to the UN, through soil erosion, we annually lose 24 billion tons of fertile land- nearly the size of England. This means we only have 60 years of topsoil left if we continue modern industrial agricultural practices. Research shows that nature-based solutions and the broader land sector could contribute up to 30% of the climate mitigation needed by 2050.
Since 2009 ReScape programs have included:
4800+
landscape professionals
950+
home gardeners
140+
rated commercial, civic, &
residential landscapes
1005+
partners, guardians,
& sponsors
Rated Landscapes
A foundational ReScape workforce and marketplace development focus is our Rated Landscapes Program, that recognizes excellence in regenerative landscape design, construction and maintenance practices. The rating system applies to new construction or major renovations of civic, commercial, institutional and multifamily property landscapes and creates healthy, drought-tolerant and environmentally sound landscapes.
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ReScape Partnership Program
ReScape’s climate action activities have evolved into our Partnership Program that brings together vendors, communities, beyond the landscaping industry. Join us as we work together in the fight against climate change. See which of our 8 Principles you align with and others you are striving for. We’re excited to work with you!
News & Calendar
We post our monthly newsletters, as well as frequent updates about climate change, advocacy, policy, and educational resources for the ReScape community.