The Georgia Historic Landscape Initiative began in 2002 under the direction of landscape architect James Cothran, FASLA, as a collaboration between the Garden Club of Georgia, Inc.; the Cherokee Garden Library at the Atlanta History Center; the Georgia Department of Natural Resources - Historic Preservation Division; and the National Park Service Southeast Regional Office. Their mission is to survey and document Georgia's historic landscape resources. These surveys provide valuable information for researchers as well as help to identify which properties might be eligible for the National Register and the Georgia Register of Historic Places.

Modeled after the national Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS) and using Garden History of Georgia, 1733-1933 as a guide, the Georgia Historic Landscape Initiative attempts to determine which of the book's historic gardens remain and what changes have been made to them. Landscape surveys are completed by volunteers from the Garden Club of Georgia, Inc., and by graduate students for the Cherokee Garden Library fellowship program.