Ecological Landscape Professional - New York

A statewide credential for ecological design/maintenance modeled after successful programs in other states.

Background: Existing Certifications in other states

ecoPRO (WA State)

When/how: Developed and launched in Washington in the early 2010s by the Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association (WSNLA) with public-agency partners. By 2014 ecoPRO had published its program policies and required readings; a 2017 Department of Ecology report notes ecoPRO was grant-funded to promote sustainable landscaping (Puget Sound NEP Toxics). No statute was required—this is a voluntary, industry credential with public-sector support. See Ecopro certified.

Today: Positioned as an advanced certification for working pros; Seattle Public Utilities lists ecoPRO in its training/certification resources. Ecoprocertified Seattle

CBLP — Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (DC/DE/MD/PA/VA/WV)

When/how: Created by the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council; the program began in 2016. It's a voluntary credential backed by a coalition of nonprofits and agencies and supported by philanthropy and government grants (e.g., DC Department of Energy & Environment, Maryland DNR, Virginia DGIF/DWR, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, among others, as listed in the study guide). No legislation required. CBLPC+1

Today: Two main tiers (Level 1/Level 2) plus add-ons. The site shows current training and the footprint across Bay-states. CBLPC CBLP-A (Associate) is an entry-level certificate for youth/entry workers; the curriculum explicitly touches native and invasive plants. There's also CBLP-Crews for BMP maintenance—useful for on-the-ground invasive management and site care. CBLPC+1

Both are voluntary professional credentials. They were stood up with agency partnerships and grant support, not statutes or licensing laws. (ecoPRO: WA Dept. of Ecology/NEP Toxics grants. CBLP: multi-source agency/foundation support.) Ecology Apps CBLPC

Impacts

Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP)

Reported impacts:

Training uptake: >1,600 Level 1 and >170 Level 2 certified pros since 2016. That's a meaningful workforce segment focused on ecological landscaping.

BMP performance: Evaluations show that trained/certified crews maintain stormwater practices more consistently (inspection reports note fewer clogged inlets, healthier vegetation, reduced sediment). Local governments and nonprofits credit CBLP for improved longevity of green infrastructure investments.

Quantified benefits: The program advertises that projects maintained by CBLP professionals have delivered reductions in nutrient and sediment runoff to the Bay, aligning with the Chesapeake Bay TMDL goals. NFWF and EPA grant reports cite CBLP as a key "capacity building" intervention: measurable improvements include more acres of riparian buffer installed/maintained, and higher inspection pass-rates on bioretention practices.

Equity and workforce: More bilingual training has increased participation of Latino landscaping crews, directly affecting day-to-day maintenance quality.

Takeaway: CBLP has evidence of improved stormwater BMP outcomes and pollutant load reductions, though the numbers are usually rolled up into grant reports (nutrients reduced, acres treated) rather than published peer-reviewed data.

ecoPRO (Washington State)

Reported impacts:

Behavior change: A WA Department of Ecology assessment (2017) found ecoPRO training increased practitioner knowledge and reported use of best practices (mulching, soil health, integrated pest management).

Municipal leverage: Seattle Public Utilities and other agencies recognize ecoPRO in bid specs, nudging firms to employ ecoPRO professionals. That creates market demand and indirectly improves sustainability outcomes in public projects.

Environmental benefit: Ecology's Puget Sound NEP Toxics grant documentation lists ecoPRO as an intervention to reduce stormwater toxins (pesticides, fertilizers, petroleum byproducts).

Quantification: Reports cite improved pollutant source control practices and "anticipated" reductions in toxic runoff, but published numeric reductions are limited. The program has not published a Bay-style watershed model.

Takeaway: ecoPRO's effects are framed in behavioral/knowledge change and agency adoption, with indirect measurable benefits (pollutant reductions projected). Hard numeric outcome studies are scarcer than in the Chesapeake Bay.

General Patterns Across Both

Market signal - Both programs are used by agencies to qualify contractors, raising the floor for ecological practices.

Workforce training - Documented uptick in professional skills, especially invasive species ID, stormwater BMP maintenance, and reduced fertilizer/pesticide use.

Environmental outcomes - CBLP: Clearer evidence in terms of Bay water-quality metrics (nutrient/sediment reductions). ecoPRO: More emphasis on practice adoption, with modeled (not always directly measured) reductions in pollutants.

Equity - CBLP in particular has broadened access to immigrant/crew-level workers, improving day-to-day ecological management.

✅ Answer in brief:

CBLP has shown measurable ecosystem benefits (acres treated, nutrient/sediment reductions, improved BMP inspection outcomes). ecoPRO has documented increased sustainable practices and is recognized in municipal bid specs; measurable pollutant reduction is more modeled than directly tracked. Neither program was set up as a regulatory requirement, so their impact is best seen in grant reports, agency adoption, and workforce practice change rather than in statewide statistics.

Draft strategy to create a NY program

Working name: Ecological Landscape Professional - New York (ELP-NY) Goal: A stackable, statewide credential that raises the floor on ecological design/maintenance, invasive-species literacy, and stormwater BMP performance—without needing new legislation.

1) Governance & partners (set up a 12-15 member steering group)

Lead host: A NY nonprofit/association (e.g., Cornell Cooperative Extension + NY State Nursery & Landscape Association).

State partners: NYS DEC (program recognition, technical review, potential grants), PRISMs (regional invasive species leadership), NYISRI at Cornell, and NY Natural Heritage Program (iMapInvasives) for data/reporting. Department of Environmental Conservation NY Invasive Species Institute NY iMapInvasives

Municipal users: Large MS4s (NYC DEP, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany), counties, soil & water districts.

Reciprocity advisors: ecoPRO (WSNLA) and CBLP (CCLC) for content licensing or mutual recognition.

2) Credential design (stackable, workforce-friendly)

Tier A - Associate ("Invasive-Aware Landscaper"): 8-12 hours, English/Spanish, field-based. Outcomes: identify priority tiered species in each PRISM, perform site assessments, advise on basic remedial steps for existing properties, and report to iMapInvasives. Issues a micro-credential and badge. Department of Environmental Conservation NY iMapInvasives

Tier 1 - Professional: Design/installation/maintenance aligned to NYS Stormwater Management Design Manual (2024 update) and the Nutrient Runoff (phosphorus) Law; includes plant palettes, soil health, irrigation efficiency, and BMP O&M. Blended instruction + proctored exam. Environmental Facilities Corporation Manual Library Department of Environmental Conservation

Tier 2 - Advanced: Complex GI retrofits, performance monitoring, and contracting/specs. Specialty modules (stackable "+" credentials): BMP Maintenance, Riparian Buffers, Shorelines, mirroring CBLP add-ons for quick NY adoption. CBLPC+1

3) Curriculum map (NY-specific)

Invasives: PRISM regional priority lists; EDRR, safe removal & disposal; restoration planting; iMap workflows. Department of Environmental Conservation External Applications DEC

Stormwater/GI: NYS 2024 Design Manual updates (climate resilience, bioretention, O&M) and MS4/CGP linkages. Environmental Facilities Corporation warrenswcd.org Barton & Loguidice

Nutrients/IPM: Compliance with NY phosphorus law; soil testing; organic and least-toxic options. Department of Environmental Conservation

4) Funding model (no new law needed)

Primary: NYS Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) via DEC (e.g., Invasive Species Grant Program; DEC Environmental Justice grants for workforce access). Department of Environmental Conservation+1

Secondary: City/county MS4 training budgets; utilities; foundations (e.g., NFWF), and corporate sponsors.

Benchmark: ecoPRO's rollout was grant-backed (two phases ~2013-2017); plan for ~$350k-$700k over 24 months to build/pilot NY statewide (content, delivery, translation, exams, evaluation). Ecology Apps

5) Recognition levers (create market pull)

Ask DEC, DOT, and large municipalities to reference ELP-NY in GI maintenance contracts and grant scoring.

Offer reciprocity: accept CBLP Level 1 or ecoPRO for cross-credit in NY (and vice-versa), accelerating adoption. CBLPC Ecoprocertified

6) Delivery & equity

Bilingual (English/Spanish) from day one (CBLP experience shows strong uptake). CBLPC

Multiple on-ramps: union halls, workforce boards, high-school CTE, community colleges.

Digital + field practicum; micro-credentials for short modules.

7) Data & outcomes

Require iMapInvasives reporting and simple O&M checklists that align to the Design Manual—track acres restored, invasive removals, BMP maintenance completed, and modeled nutrient/sediment reductions. NY iMapInvasives Environmental Facilities Corporation

8) Timeline (aggressive but feasible)

0-3 months: Steering group, MoUs (CBLP/ecoPRO), needs assessment.

4-9 months: Draft curricula, NY adaptations, pilot Associate; secure EPF grant.

10-15 months: Pilot Tier 1 cohorts in 3 PRISM regions; stand up directory.

16-24 months: Statewide launch; NJ/CT extensions via partners (Rutgers Water Resources Program, NJDEP, NJ Invasive Species Strike Team; CT DEEP/UConn CIPWG) using co-branded modules. water.rutgers.edu +1 Department of Environmental Protection Fohvos Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group

NJ / CT hooks (optional expansion)

New Jersey: Leverage Rutgers Green Infrastructure training ecosystem and the NJ Invasive Species Strike Team for invasive-ID modules and app/reporting; NJDEP Flood Resilience trainings add policy context. water.rutgers.edu+1 Fohvos Department of Environmental Protection