Invitation Letter

Dear Participants,

We kindly request that you prepare the abstract of the paper you presented at the 7th International Congress on Landscape Architecture Research (ICLAR) in accordance with the attached format, in English only, and submit it to us no later than the end of business on 30 November 2025.

e mail : iclarcongress.org@gmail.com

Please consider the following guidelines while preparing your abstract:

• Academic titles should not be used before author names.

• The abstract must not exceed one page.

• E-mail address and ORCID number must be included.

Thank you for your attention, and we respectfully submit this request for your consideration.

Gulcan AVŞAR
  Congress Secretary
7th International Congress on Landscape Architecture Research (ICLAR)  

 Assessing the Resilience of Social-Ecological Landscapes: A Strategic Approach Toward a Sustainable Future

Gülay ÇETİNKAYA ÇİFTÇİOĞLU

Arkin University of Creative Arts and Design, Faculty of Design, Department of Architecture, Kyrenia-TRNC email: gulay.cetinkaya@arucad.edu.tr
ORCID: 0000-0001-7228-2148

Abstract

This paper explores the critical role of resilience assessment in social-ecological landscapes as a strategic approach for promoting a more sustainable future. Social-ecological landscapes are formed through dynamic interactions between humans and nature, resulting in complex systems where ecological and social systems are deeply interlinked. While the ecological dimension encompasses ecosystem health, the social dimension reflects human well-being. The components of both systems are interrelated in a complex adaptive landscape system. Such landscape systems are characterized by self-organizing, self-sustaining, self-renewing, and adaptive capacity based on uncertainties and disturbances. However, various human activities have substantially altered or degraded these landscapes. Therefore, there has been a growing interest in the conservation and sustainable management of social-ecological landscapes to navigate toward a sustainable future. Within this context, resilience has emerged as a strategic approach to landscape planning and a rapid assessment toolkit for regions lacking or having limited data and financial resources. Resilience refers to a system's ability and/or capacity (e.g. ecological, social, and social-ecological) to cope with changes and disturbances.  In this regard, the basic attributes of a resilient social-ecological landscape system include adaptive capacity, resistance capacity, and transformation. A set of relevant resilient assessment indicators can be designed and used to evaluate the resilience of the ecological and social systems, as well as the overall resilience of the system. Consequently, resilience offers a rapid and reliable assessment approach for assessing social-ecological landscapes and developing appropriate management strategies to support biodiversity conservation, food security, and sustainable community development at different scales.

Keywords: Socio-Ecological Landscapes, Resilience, Resilience Assessment, Landscape Planning, Sustainable Development

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce that the 7^th International Congress on Landscape Architecture Research (ICLAR 2025) will be hosted at Arkin University of Creative Arts and Design (ARUCAD), located in the beautiful and historic city of Kyrenia (Girne), Northern Cyprus. We are delighted to warmly invite you to participate in this prestigious event, scheduled to take place in person and online from November 20–21, 2025.

This year's congress focuses on the theme of “Climate-Sensitive Design and Sustainable Landscape Architecture”, a global topic in the pursuit of a resilient and sustainable future. As the impact of climate change become more evident, the need for effective mitigation and adaptation strategies in landscape architecture, urban design, and close disciplines has become icreasingly urgent. In this context, the congress aims to explore innovative, sustainable, resilient approaches that address these pressing environemnatl challenges. Detailed information on the congress sub-themes and topics of interest can be found on our official website: www.iclar.org.

The primary objective of the congress is to bring together academic scientists, researchers, research scholars, professionals, and policymakers from around the world to exchange their latest findings, ideas, and practices in the broad and dynamic field of landscape architecture. Key topics will include but are not limited to: climate-sensitive design of landscapes and buildings, resilient and sustainable landscape design and planning approaches, sustainability, smart technologies, innovative design approaches, urban ecology, environmental health, climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, and the socio-cultural dimensions of landscape planning and design.

This multidisciplinary event offers an excellent opportunity for participants to:

• Present their research and findings to an international academic audience.

• Engage in in-depth discussions with colleagues and leading experts.

• Foster enduring academic and professional collaborations across countries and institutions.

• Receive constructive feedback on ongoing research projects and emerging issues.

We invited you to participate in this outstanding event to contribute to the international pressing issues in the field of landscape architecture and related disciplines. Your active participation, either as an author attendee, may support rigorous academic exchange and foster meaningful dialogue within the field.

All accepted abstracts will be published in the official Congress Proceedings Book. Additionally, selected full papers will undergo a rigorous peer-review process, and high-quality papers will be considered for publication in the International Journal of Landscape Architecture Research (IJLAR).

We look forward to welcoming you to this distinguished international event and engaging in a collaborative exploration of innovative approaches and practices to create more sustainable and resilient landscape, liveable communities, and health environments. 

Join us in shaping the future of landscape architecture!

With kind regards,

Prof. Dr. Gülay Çetinkaya Çiftçioğlu

Chair of the 7^th  International Congress on Landscape Architecture Research

www.iclar.org