The Lorax, as many people know, is a Dr. Seuss book about a mythical creature who “speaks for trees.” Widely understood as a parable about the value and importance of natural resources and the risk industry poses to them, the word “Lorax” has come to mean someone who is environmentally minded and is an advocate for natural elements like trees and plants, that have no voice. And James Urban, FASLA wants that person to be YOU.

Today we’re sharing the final video in a series of four (you can see the rest here) about Jim, who is a renowned landscape architect known for his experience and skills in the areas of urban arboriculture and soils, including the preservation and installation of trees in the urban environment, and the specification and installation of specialized planting soils for roof gardens, urban landscape plantings, and rain water management.

In this video, Jim talks about how he went from practicing general landscape architecture to becoming a specialist  in trees, soils, and stormwater, the major influences on his career – including his career-changing meeting with Harvard microbiologist Tom Perry, his concerns about the state of the profession today – and his hopes and wishes for the future for the future.

You can watch more from Jim on our YouTube channel, and read all about his projects, tools, and more on his website.