ecoPRO VisionTrained, certified professionals will establish sustainable landscaping as the norm forhomes, 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?

ecoPRO is the brainchild of a broad base ofstakeholders which, since 2011, have developed the following:

Program standards and sustainable best management practices

Training curricula and a certification exam.

A business plan, including program administration and governance, marketing, performance measurement and evaluation, and sustainable funding.

Funding & Support

• WA Department of Ecology (through federal funding from the National Estuary Program)

• WA Department of Agriculture

• Seattle Public Utilities

• WSNLA Scholarship & Research Charitable Fund

• In kind contributions from the ‐landscape industry. W

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 andAdministration.

ecoPRO Eligibility

ecoPRO is an advanced certification. To be eligible, an individual mustdemonstrate 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.

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

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

1. Build demand for the certification & increase # certified• Offer 2-3 trainings a year.

2. Build demand for sustainable landscape services through marketing ecoPRO program & certified individuals• Residents, commercial entities, and public agencies

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.

What’s Next? Looking Forward

2020 Goals: Achieve market recognition state Wide‐ Certify 700 professionals

Serve: 30,000 residential customers 20,000 commercial and institutional customers 30% of public entities Be financially self‐sustaining

How You Can HelpecoPRO Sponsor• Training sponsor/partner• Custom sponsorships

Program Partner – promotion• Help Build Demand

– This will drive demand for sustainable landscape professionals– This will drive demand for landscape professionals to become certified

Ideas: - Promote local ecoPRO certified individuals on printed materials and

website- Tour of local ecoPRO landscapes- Rebate programs for hiring ecoPROs

Seattle Public Utilities Was An Initial Funder

- Staff participation in development of program

- Staff participates on Technical Committee

- Staff participates as instructor in trainings

Questions?