Course Title: Manage natural area restoration programs

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2014

Course Code: ENVI5075C

Course Title: Manage natural area restoration programs

School: 155T Vocational Health and Sciences

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5305 - Diploma of Conservation and Land Management

Course Contact: Namrita Kaul

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4309

Course Contact Email: namrita.kaul@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Helen Corney
e-mail: helen.corney@rmit.edu.au

Nevil Schultz 
Ph. 9925 5221
e-mail: nevil.schultz@rmit.edu.au

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

Course Description

This unit covers management of natural area restoration programs and defines the standard required to carry out a site assessment for restoration; select vegetation restoration techniques; plan a natural area restoration program; calculate staff and resources required; supervise natural area restoration works; and review natural area restoration program against issues identified in the management plan for the area.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

AHCNAR504A 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 Occupational Health and Safety (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

Element:

4. Review natural area restoration programs

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



Details of Learning Activities

Theory classes covering underpinning knowledge

Field trips

Practical work


Teaching Schedule

 

Date/ day Week Topic

Wed 12 Feb,  10.30 am

 1 Ecology
Wed 19 Feb 2 Ecology
Wed 26 th Feb 3 Ecology
Wed 5th March 4 Anglesea Camp
Wed 12th March 5 Ecology
Wed 19th Mar 6 Ecology
Wed 26th Mar 7 Ecology
 Friday 4th April 8

Organ Pipes State Park- Restoration Case Study –
FIELD PRAC (3pm finish)
Ass1 (Ecology) due 15th April
Friday 11th April 9 Understanding your site and planning for restoration
OH&S
Restoration theory /Resilience (2)
Friday 18th April 10 EASTER BREAK
Friday 25th April (Anzac day Holiday) 11 Collecting and Collating Base Information
Introduction to Site Assessment and Data Sheet
Assessment 2 (Organ Pipes) Due – 26/4/13
Friday 3rd May 12 Vegetation identification and sampling –
FIELD PRAC Burke Rd Billabong 2pm finish
 
Friday 10th May 13 NO CLASS (2ND YEAR CAMP)
Friday 17th May 14 Vegetation identification and sampling / Fauna analysis
FIELD PRAC Burke Rd Billabong 2pm finish
Friday 24th May 15 Geomorphology and Soils – LAB PRAC
–Soils, structure, analysis, erosion
Friday 31st May 16 Geomorphology and Soils; Fauna analysis –
FIELD PRAC Burke Rd Billabong 2pm finish
Friday 7th June 17 Threats, Pressures and management strategies
(Introduction for Geraldines oral presentation on site of their choosing)
Friday 14th June 18 Coastal restoration techniques
ALL DAY FIELD TRIP
Assessment 3 (Burke Rd Site Assessment) Due
    SEMESTER BREAK
Fri 12th July 1 Natural Area Restoration Techniques
Intro /assessment – Revision Recap
Restoring Riparian Vegetation
Fri 19th July 2 Planning for Restoration – Burke Rd Billabong and VINC NURSERY
ALL DAY FIELD TRIP
Fri 26th July 3 Planning for restoration Burke Rd Billabong
Restoring Woodlands
Fri 2nd August 4 Restoring Woodlands (Combined with Collect & Manage data)
ALL DAY FIELD TRIP to Growling Frog Golf Course
(Co-ordinate with peter Homan on this )
Assessment 4 due: Burke Rd Restoration Plan
Fri 9th August 5 Restoration works (Burke Rd Billabong)
ALL DAY FIELD TRIP
Fri 16th August 6 Restoration works (Burke Rd Billabong)
ALL DAY FIELD TRIP
Fri 23rd August 7 Restoration works (Burke Rd Billabong)
Planning for Restoration – Burke Rd Billabong
ALL DAY FIELD TRIP
Fri 30th August 8 Restoration works (Burke Rd Billabong)
Monitoring works
ALL DAY FIELD TRIP
Fri 6th September 9 Monitoring works
Assessment 5: Group presentations
NB. THIS IS THE FINAL WEEK FOR RESTORATION PROGRAMS
Fri 13th September 10 INSPECT & MONITOR CULTURAL PLACES
(Timetable of activities to be supplied)
     


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Restoring natural areas in Australia.  Buchanan R. (2009), NSW Govt

978 0 7313 06

Bush regeneration: Recovering Australian Landscapes. Buchanan R. (1989) TAFE NSW (NOTE: This text is excellent, but out of print. There are copies on reserve in the Carlton library)

0 7240 7877 0

References

Vegetation quality assessment manual http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/conservation-and-environment/native-vegetation-groups-for-victoria/vegetation-quality-assessment-manual


Other Resources

Online resources will be made available on the RMIT Blackboard (Learning hub) system as required. You should get into the habit of accessing Blackboard on a regular basis in order to keep in touch with lesson notes, assessment information, and general announcements relevant to the smooth running of this Course.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course may include individual and group project work, assignments, tests, practical assessment and reports


Assessment Tasks

Semester 1 Assessment 1
(Ecology Report-
Nevil/ Helen)
Due: 12 April

Semester 1 Assessment 2
Restoration site Case study-Organ Pipes National Park
Due26th April


Semester 1 Assessment 3
Burke Road Site Assessment
Due 14th June


Semester 2 Assessment 4
Burke Rd Billabong Restoration Plan
Due 2nd August


Semester 2 Assessment 5
Monitor and Review Burke Rd Billabong Restoration works
Due 6th September.
 

 You will need to complete all Assessments to a satisfactory level to be awarded competency in this Course.

A generic Assessment Rubric will also be posted on Blackboard. This will give you a clear idea of the performance standard required to attain specific levels of competency.


Assessment Matrix

The Assessment matrix will be posted on Blackboard. This gives you a clear indication of the Elements of Competency relevant to each assessment item.

Other Information

  •  Extension of time for submission of assessable work- A student may apply for an extension of up to 7 days from the original due date. They must lodge the application form (available on the web http://mams.rmit.edu.au/seca86tti4g4z.pdf ) at least the day before the due date. The application is lodged with the School Admin Office on Level 6, Bdg 51. Students requiring longer extensions must apply for Special Consideration (form available on the Web). For missed assessments such as exams- you (& your doctor if you are sick) must fill out a special consideration form. This form must be lodged at the HUB or online with supporting evidence (eg medical certificate), prior to, or within, 48 hours of the scheduled time of examination.
     
  • Late work that is submitted without an application for an extension will not be corrected
     
  • If you miss an assessment task due to unavoidable circumstances, you need to follow the procedure of special consideration and apply within the allowed time frame.

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