The Sustainable SITES Initiative

SITES is a sustainability rating system that helps guide, evaluate and certify the planning, design, construction and management of landscapes and other outdoor spaces. It supports landscape architects, planners and other professionals in applying nature-based solutions to create more sustainable and resilient land development projects. By encouraging thoughtful landscape practices, SITES projects can enhance biodiversity, mitigate climate change, conserve resources, improve public health and protect critical ecosystems.

The certification is available to projects on sites with or without buildings, including parks, corporate campuses, botanic gardens and university grounds. The SITES website features certified projects from locations around the world, along with news, articles and resources for professionals and partners. It also provides education and events, project exploration, and information about becoming a SITES Community Partner. These partners form a network promoting nature-based solutions, healthy ecosystem conservation and meaningful, high-performance outdoor spaces. Through its rating system, certification and professional resources, SITES helps project teams assess sustainability and advance landscape designs that respond to environmental and community needs.