Sustainable Landscaping Program in Washington State
Discover ecoPRO Vision, a training and certification program designed to establish sustainable landscaping as the norm in Washington, benefiting watersheds, groundwater, and public health. Learn about its objectives, funding, eligibility criteria, and training domains. Join the movement towards sustainable landscape practices in Washington State today!
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Presentation Transcript
ecoPRO Vision Trained, certified professionals will establish sustainable landscaping as the norm for homes, institutions, and public spaces, thus contributing to the restoration and protection of watersheds, groundwater, and public health throughout Washington. The program is jointly administered by WA State Nursery & Landscape Association & WA Association of Landscape Professionals.
What is ecoPRO? ecoPRO is a training & certification program for landscape professionals that aims to satisfy the growing professional and consumer interest in sustainable landscape services. It is intended to achieve four primary outcomes: 1. Provide credentials to individuals with expertise in sustainable landscaping practices, thereby giving them an advantage in the marketplace 2. Provide consumers with a verifiable means of judging qualifications 3. Impart practical knowledge to landscape professionals of sustainable landscaping practices across Washington State. 4. Achieve widespread adoption by professionals of sustainable landscaping practices across Washington State.
What is ecoPRO? Funding & Support ecoPRO is the brainchild of a broad base of stakeholders which, since 2011, have developed the following: WA Department of Ecology (through federal funding from the National Estuary Program) WA Department of Agriculture Program standards and sustainable best management practices Seattle Public Utilities WSNLA Scholarship & Research Charitable Fund Training curricula and a certification exam. In kind contributions from the landscape industry. W A business plan, including program administration and governance, marketing, performance measurement and evaluation, and sustainable funding. ecoPRO is currently expecting additional funding from Washington state Department of Ecology for initial implementation including a program website and marketing materials, a system for tracking best practices and environmental impacts, and one year of a .25 FTE for program coordination and Administration.
ecoPRO Eligibility ecoPRO is an advanced certification. To be eligible, an individual must demonstrate professional status by: Being certified through a professional horticulture organization such as APLD, ISA, IA, WALP or WSNLA. Being a landscape architect or graduate of an accredited landscape architecture program. Have an associate degree or higher in horticulture or a related field, and 3-years of professional horticulture experience.
ecoPRO Training & Exam 8 ecoPRO Domains The ecoPRO certification program has identified eight domains that include 200+ sustainable landscape management best practices. As an ecoPRO certified individual, you will demonstrate knowledge of, and voluntarily practice, sustainable best landscape practices in the following domains: Protecting and conserving soils Conserving water Protecting water and air quality Protecting and creating wildlife habitat Conserving energy Sustaining healthy plants Using sustainable methods and materials Protecting human health
ecoPRO Training & Exam Certification Requirements: read required study materials and pass exam. Agree to abide by ecoPRO Code of Ethics. Individuals may take training only, or exam only 24 CEUs per 3 years $150 renewal fee per 3 years
Whats Next? Looking Forward 1. Build demand for the certification & increase # certified Offer 2-3 trainings a year. 2020 Goals: Achieve market recognition state Wide Certify 700 professionals 2. Build demand for sustainable landscape services through marketing ecoPRO program & certified individuals Residents, commercial entities, and public agencies Serve: 30,000 residential customers 20,000 commercial and institutional customers 30% of public entities Be financially self sustaining 3. Identify education partners Help grow program and grow geographically 4. Establish a protocol to evaluate best management practices Used by certified individuals Translated into environmental and health impacts.
How You Can Help ecoPRO Sponsor Training sponsor/partner Custom sponsorships Seattle Public Utilities Was An Initial Funder Program Partner promotion Help Build Demand This will drive demand for sustainable landscape professionals This will drive demand for landscape professionals to become certified - Staff participation in development of program - Staff participates on Technical Committee Ideas: - Promote local ecoPRO certified individuals on printed materials and website Tour of local ecoPRO landscapes Rebate programs for hiring ecoPROs - Staff participates as instructor in trainings - -
