Community Resilience
The complementary strategies of resilience and adaptation are essential tools for landscape architects in addressing the impacts of climate change and fostering environments that mitigate harm to vulnerable communities and ecosystems. Resilience focuses on the capacity to recover from disruptions, minimizing further negative consequences and enabling communities to "bounce back" stronger. Adaptation, on the other hand, involves preparing for future climate threats and taking steps to protect against them. The effects of climate change are disproportionately felt by communities that are already at risk, such as low-income, BIPOC, elderly, youth, and people with disabilities. Strategies for resilience and adaptation must prioritize climate justice, ensuring that efforts do not exacerbate existing inequities, but instead improve the wellbeing of those most affected by climate impacts.
For community resilience around Fire, see the related section Fire in the Landscape
In Oregon, many groups are working to create Community Resilience Hubs—collaborative, community-based networks that activate before, during, and after climate disasters. These hubs are crucial in response to recent climate-related emergencies, including wildfires, heatwaves, droughts, flooding, and crop losses. Addressing these challenges requires not only design expertise but also public engagement and community outreach strategies focused on equitable, sustainable solutions. Initiatives such as the Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities legislation further drive impactful change.
Explore strategies for resilience and adaptation to alleviate climate change impacts and create conditions that reduce harm to social and ecological systems:
Oregon-Specific Resilience Resources
Explore Oregon-specific resources designed to enhance climate resilience and adaptation efforts throughout the state, focusing on both statewide and local initiatives.
-
Visit Climate Change Adaptation & Resilience (Oregon Department of Transportation), a resource outlining Oregon's climate change adaptation and resilience strategies, focusing on transportation planning and infrastructure resilience in the face of climate impacts.
Explore Climate and Health Resilience Plan (Oregon Department of Health), a plan that addresses health impacts from climate change, focusing on vulnerable populations and building community resilience.
Review Oregon Resilience Plan, the state's official plan to increase resilience against natural and human-made hazards, including climate impacts, and protect communities, infrastructure, and resources.
-
Check out Community Resilience Hubs, a network of community-driven centers in Oregon that serve as focal points for preparedness, response, and recovery during climate-related emergencies.
Download Community Resilience Workbook (Portland), a workbook offering practical guidance on strengthening community resilience in Portland, with a focus on self-sufficiency and preparedness.
Explore Resilient Portland (Portland State University), an initiative focused on advancing Portland’s climate resilience strategies, including research, projects, and community partnerships.
Read Portland Area Tree Planting Honors Those Who Died in 2021 Heat Dome (OPB), a news article about Portland's memorial tree planting initiative for those who died in the 2021 heat dome, highlighting community-driven resilience efforts.
-
Explore Green Infrastructure and Climate Resilience: Jump-starting Portland’s Environmental Agenda (Bird Alliance of Oregon), an article discussing how green infrastructure can improve Portland's climate resilience and be incorporated into urban planning.
Learn about Supporting Natural Climate Solutions in the Pacific Northwest (Paul G. Allen Foundation), an initiative supporting projects in the Pacific Northwest that use natural systems to address climate challenges and build community resilience.
-
Visit US Climate Resilience Toolkit - Northwest, a section of the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit offering resources for communities in the Northwest U.S. to plan for climate adaptation and resilience.
Nationwide & International Resilience Resources
Explore tools and resources from across the country and around the world to support climate resilience planning and adaptation efforts for communities everywhere.
-
Visit Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) Adaptation Primers, which offers a series of primers that explore adaptation strategies in landscape architecture to address climate change impacts.
Explore Climate Adaptation Knowledge Exchange (CAKE), an online platform for climate adaptation case studies, resources, and tools aimed at helping communities and organizations plan for and respond to climate change.
Check out Climate Mapping for Resilience & Adaptation (CMRA), a tool offering mapping resources for resilience planning and climate adaptation to help communities understand regional vulnerabilities and develop strategic responses.
Learn about Preparing for Climate Change: A Guidebook for Local, Regional, and State Governments (UW Climate Impacts Group), a comprehensive guidebook offering climate change adaptation strategies for governments to implement at various levels.
-
Explore Naturally Resilient Communities, an organization that promotes the use of nature-based solutions to build climate resilience and protect communities from extreme weather events.
Visit Penn State Initiative for Resilient Communities, a program that partners with local communities to develop resilient solutions to address environmental, social, and economic climate impacts.
Read Landscape Architecture Strategies Reduce Impacts of Dangerous Extreme Heat, an article detailing how landscape architects can reduce the impact of extreme heat events through strategic design interventions.
-
Explore ULI Developing Urban Resilience, a platform focused on urban resilience strategies, including buildings and infrastructure adaptations to address sea-level rise and other climate risks.
Visit USGS Climate Adaptation Science Centers, which supports research and decision-making around climate adaptation, providing scientific data and resources to help communities understand and address climate impacts.
Check out US Climate Resilience Toolkit, a comprehensive resource that offers tools, case studies, and data to support climate resilience planning across various sectors and communities.
Learn about What is Climate Resilience? (Union of Concerned Scientists), a primer that explains the concept of climate resilience, its importance, and how communities can build resilience to climate change impacts.