Construction and siting issues   Currently, the LEED standards are heavily building oriented and could have more elements that consider the landscape in a holistic way. With some landscape issues, it is difficult to isolate the site from its context. The standards do not require that ecologically functioning landscapes be built. (Calkins, 2001) Additionally, in designing buildings, the goal is to minimize impacts while with site design, it is possible to improve and contribute to ecosystem functions. (Peterson, 2002). It is hard to document and set standards for ecologically functioning landscapes. This makes it difficult for the development of LEED standards because they need to be documented and achievable.       Certification is based on documentation that is recorded throughout the process. Unfortunately, the rigors of the documentation may distract from the goal of sustainability in that they become elements that needs to be checked off. Some projects get too caught up in the documentation and achieving standards. Presently, there is a requirement that buildings and sites need to be recertified. The USGBC, the certification organization, has been under strain because of the huge demand and interest there has been.       Another criticism is that some people point out that some of the criteria may ultimately conflict with true sustainability. For example, some projects that are being developed in greenfields are being praised because they are achieving LEED standards but they are still impacting land that has not previously been developed.       LEED has been beneficial in providing a common tool for people of different disciplines to work together. One of the important elements of making LEED successful is that from the beginning everyone involved is in agreement to clear goals that include LEED standards. (Peterson, 2002). Although it may be weaker on landscape and site issues, it does encourage a discussion of the building and landscape relationship as well as bringing issues of ecological functions more to the fore front.