Christine Flauta

I am a landscape designer and geographer interested in social-ecological systems and biocultural diversity. I am fascinated by the interconnections of people and place and how ecological systems influence human societies. Growing up on an island I wanted to understand my relationship with the land and how one’s connection to place can influence their perception of what it means to live sustainability as an individual, but most importantly, as a community.

Education:

M.S. Landscape Architecture, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
B.A. Geography, University of Hawaiʿi – Mānoa

Favorite Quote:

“Being naturalized to place means to live as if this is the land that feeds you, as if these are the streams from which you drink, that build your body and fill your spirit. To become naturalized is to know that your ancestors lie in this ground.” - Robin Wall Kimmerer

Favorite Species & Why:

ʻŌhiʻa Lehua tree (Metrosideros polymorpha) because they are a key stone species on the Hawaiian Islands and one of the first plants to grow after a lava flow. They protect the watershed by retaining water, controlling erosion and flooding giving life to the rest of the forest. The ʻŌhiʻa Lehua tree symbolizes strength, resiliency, rebirth, and the unbreakable bond between sweethearts.