Below excerpt taken from a NFWF press release (23 Sept 2014):
In the true spirit of the Cooperative Extension System, we are pleased to announce that the Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional Certification Initiative has received funding to develop and pilot this certification in Maryland and Virginia through a $200,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council (CCLC), with Wetlands Watch, Virginia DGIF and University of Maryland Sea Grant Extension as Consortium partners.
Pledges for matching funds in excess of $110,000 were received from numerous partners. It was because of the strong support of watershed groups and local government and their willingness to collaborate that this effort came to fruition.
Once the piloting is complete, the goal is to expand the certification Bay-wide and statewide, with a self-financing, market driven certification program managed and administered by a Consortium.
Read the full press release: http://bit.ly/1s5hryr
Dear Shereen, Glad this is going to happen. I already am a Virginia Certified Horticulturist and have a Pesticide Applicator certificate. I am a certified arborist for the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. I also have my RLD certificate and currently do Erosion & Sediment Inspections; in addition, I plan to take an exam in March for a Stormwater Inspector. So you can see that I may qualify for your pilot for I have studied these disciplines since the mid-seventies. I work full time with the City of Virginia Beach at our convention center maintaining the grounds which include eleven exterior freshwater ponds, nine interior ponds and one water retention pond. I am also the president of the South Hampton Roads Chapter of the Native Plant Society. I am concerned with duplication of certifications. I have been in the field all my life and love to share information stainable best management practices. I love the diversity found in nature but I am alarmed by the damage we are doing as an industry. I would love to participate in the February 20th meeting please. Continue the great work for the outline seems well rounded. Thanks, Beth