Developing sustainability or sustaining development? Sustainable development within landscape architecture

This study explores the concept of sustainable development within the profession of landscape architecture in Ontario based on a questionnaire survey, which was mailed out to full members of the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects.; Exploring the current understanding(s) and practices of sustainable development within landscape architecture, and exploring some of the barriers that inhibit the implementation of sustainable development practices within the profession, this study found that within Ontario, there are landscape architects who consciously incorporate the concept of sustainable development within their work. However, this study also found that within the profession of landscape architecture, the concept of sustainable development is neither clearly defined nor concisely interpreted, and therefore, there is no common approach available.; This study further found that within Ontario, landscape architects use different definitions and approaches to sustainable development in their work, and while sustainable development is considered a priority to the majority of landscape architects, it is most commonly an individual endeavour as the organization within which they are employed general do not provide clear definitions, or clearly laid out implementation strategies for sustainable development practices. The most significant barriers to sustainable development practices were identified as the dominant economic framework and the general absence of a clear definition and concrete implementation strategies for sustainable development practices within the profession of landscape architecture.