ONEONTA — The Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society has unveiled the Habitat and Ecosystems Land Pro Endorsement Program (HELP) 2026, a three-day course aimed at equipping landscaping professionals with the skills to transform managed land into thriving ecological habitats. The program responds to increasing demand for sustainable landscaping practices amid widespread habitat loss and declining biodiversity.
Presented in partnership with the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Audubon Center, the Otsego County Conservation Association, and the Home Earth Alliance/IMAGINE Native Plant Farm, HELP 2026 targets landscape architects, maintenance providers, municipal employees, and students in Upstate New York. Additional support comes from the Audubon Society of the Capital Region and the Southern Adirondack Audubon Society.
The course, scheduled for March 10 through 12 at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center, integrates classroom instruction with hands-on field training. The first two days cover ecological design theory and strategy and can be attended in person or online. The final day, required in person, provides field instruction focused on applying ecological principles to real-world sites and preparing participants for program endorsement.
Curriculum topics include the role of native plants in local ecosystems, reconstructing functional ecosystems based on soil types and eco-regions, ecological design principles, and strategies for monetizing habitat-focused landscaping services. Participants who complete the program earn the designation of Endorsed Eco-scaper, a credential that provides visibility across multiple platforms, including the DOAS website, National Audubon Plants for Birds and Native Plants databases, and partner conservation organizations.
HELP 2026 also qualifies for continuing education credits, offering 12 CEUs for Certified Nursery Landscape Professionals, 10.5 for the International Society of Arborists, and 12 for landscape architects.
Registration is limited to maintain a high-quality learning environment. Fees are $675 for the full in-person program and $635 for the hybrid option, with discounts for multiple employees from the same business. Participants can register online at https://doas.us/help-2026
Sponsorship inquiries can be directed to the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society.
The program reflects a broader shift in professional landscaping toward ecologically functional, native plant-focused design, merging aesthetic appeal with tangible conservation outcomes.
For more information contact Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society Publicity Chairperson Susan O’Handley; 607-643-5680; info@doas.us
