Course Title: Manage natural area restoration programs

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2011

Course Code: ENVI5052C

Course Title: Manage natural area restoration programs

School: 155T Vocational Health and Sciences

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5161 - Diploma of Conservation and Land Management

Course Contact: Judith McCann

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 99258366

Course Contact Email: judith.mccann@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nevil Schultz  -   Ecology Component, Semester One 2011,

nevil.schultz@rmit.edu.au

+ 61 3 9925 4221

Nominal Hours: 200

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

There are none for this course

Course Description

This competency standard covers the process of managing natural arearestoration programs. It requires the ability to inspect and assess site for the replacement of vegetation, plan natural area restoration program, monitor natural area restoration works, and review the natural area restoration program. Managing natural area restoration programs requires a knowledge of natural area restoration techniques, identification of plant and animal threats to treated areas, soils and nutrients, plant selection and culture, calculations for materials, preparation of plans and specifications and project management.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

RTD5003A Manage natural area restoration programs

Element:

1. Inspect and assess site for replacement of vegetation

Performance Criteria:

1.1 A vegetation assessment report is prepared.
1.2 Site conditions, level of degradation and potential for natural
area restoration are determined.
1.3 Threats to existing ecosystem, flora, fauna and property from
natural area restoration works are assessed.
1.4 Range of likely operating conditions, hazards and
difficult/sensitive environments are assessed for impact on
natural area restoration works.

Element:

2. Plan natural area restoration program

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Plans and specifications for natural area restoration works are
prepared according to program/management aims and
objectives.
2.2 Natural area restoration techniques are selected to meet
management plans and enterprise requirements.
2.3 Staging strategy for works is outlined.
2.4 Protective structures are planned to ensure compliance with
OHS and relevant legislation.
2.5 Appropriately skilled personnel are selected.
2.6 Equipment and personnel are transported to natural area
restoration sites without injury or damage according to
enterprise procedures.
2.7 Appropriate permits/licenses and authorisations are obtained
according to legislative and enterprise requirements.
2.8 Equipment and materials required for natural area restoration
work is sourced according to enterprise procedures.

Element:

3. Monitor natural area restoration works

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Observations are made according to natural area restoration
plans and to enterprise procedures.
3.2 Checks are made that the site is prepared according to
specifications.
3.3 Plant materials, machinery and equipment are checked to ensure
compliance with enterprise guidelines and natural area
restoration plan.
3.4 Natural area restoration works are effected according to
enterprise guidelines.
3.5 Work is monitored to ensure remedial action is undertaken as
required.
3.6 Occupational health and safety management conforms to
legislative requirements and enterprise policies and
procedures.

Element:

4, Review natural area restoration program

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Site is monitored to ensure compliance with maintenance
program plans and specifications or enterprise guidelines.
4.2 Site is assessed to determine whether natural area restoration
works are addressing factors and issues consistent with
management plans.
4.3 Changes to natural area restoration techniques are reported to
enterprise procedures for adoption in future works

Learning Outcomes


These are listed as competencies for this course


Details of Learning Activities

Ecology - Field Work, Class notes, Lecture material, exercises, ecosystem report , biological succession & analysis task

Plan Natural Area Restoration - Lecture material, Field work, Lab pracs, Classroom exercises


Teaching Schedule

Ecology Learning Component.   Teacher: Nevil Schultz

 

Week Commencing Topic

Assessment

due
Feb 7 The biosphere, Biomes, Bioregions, Ecological Vegetation Classes  
14 Abiotic & Biotic ecosystem components  
21 Case Study of a local ecosystem  
28 Anglesea Preparation  
Mar 7 Anglesea Field Work  
14 Energy inecosystems, biogeaochemical cycles  
21 ..continued  Ecosystem report
28 Food Chains & Food Webs  
Apr 4 Revision  
11    
18 Mid Sem Break  
25 Sustaining Ecosystems  Mid Semester Quiz
May 2 Biological Succession I  
9 Biological Succession II  
16 Disturbance Effects on Ecosystems, Fire, Salinity  Biological Succession & Restoration analysis task
23 Acid Sulphate soils, Climate Change  
30 Revision  
Jun 6 End of Unit Test: Thursday 9th June End of Unit Test
     

 

Manage Natural Area Restoration Programs Field Component - Teacher: Helen Corney

 

Date Week Topic
9/2 1 Introduction to natural restoration
16/2 2 Introduction to Ecosystem functioning
23/2 3 Commonly used terminology
2/3 4 Restoration theory
9/3 5 BIOLOGICAL CAMP - NO CLASS
16/3 6 The concept of resiliance
23/3 7 Organ Pipes NP - field trip 
30/3 8 Understanding your site and planning for restoration
6/4 9 Collecting and collating Base Information
13/4 10 Introduction to site Assement and Data Sheets
20/4 11 Vegetation identification and sampling - Field prac
21/4 EASTER  
4/5 12 Vegetation identification and sampling - Field prac
11/5 13 Geomorphology and Soils - Lab prac
18/5 14 Geomorphology and Soils - Field prac
25/5 15 Threats, pressures and Management Strategies
1/6 16 Fauna Analysis
8/6 17 Supplementary Assessment
15/6 18 Student Vacation


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Restoring Natural Areas in Australia    Robin A Buchanan


References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course may include assignments, proect reports, tests and quizzes


Assessment Tasks

Ecology component assessment

All Assessment Components are done as Graded Assessment

Ecosystem Report:  20%

Mid Semester Quiz:  5 %

Biological Succession & Restoration analysis task 10%

End of Unit Test:                           15 %

To Acheive Competency for the ecology component, all assessment items must be attempted and an overall 50% achieved, including a 50 % minimum pass in the Quiz & End of Unit Test combined 

Case Study on Restoration Sites - 15%

Vegetation Assessment Report - 17.5%

Site Assessment Data Sheets and Prac Reports - 17.5%

NB: All assessment pieces must be passed to achieve competency for the course.


Assessment Matrix

Course Overview: Access Course Overview