Course Title: Manage natural area restoration programs

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2009

Course Code: ENVI5052C

Course Title: Manage natural area restoration programs

School: 155T Life & Physical 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:  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 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

Learning activities will cover a range of activities including: lectures, class pracs, guest speakers, field trips and field work.

 

NB:  This course is run on the same day as "Undertake Sampling and Testing of Water".  A number of classes have been dedicated to full day Water Testing Field Trips.


Teaching Schedule

Manage natural restoration programs - Timetable
Week Date Content
1 15/7/09

 Course Outline

Understaning Restoration in the Australian Context
2 22/7/09  Restoration Principles
3 29/7/09  Understanding your site and planning for restoration
4 5/8/09

 Field Trip

Latrobe Wildlife Reserve
5 12/8/09  Woodlands and the issues around dieback
6 19/8/09  Water Testing
7 26/8/09  Combating Salinity
8 2/9/09

 Field Trip

Westernport Seagrass Restoration Project
9 9/9/09

 Field Work

Introduction to Burke Rd Billabong
10 16/9/09  Coastal Restoration
    MID SEMESTER BREAK
11 30/9/09  Water Testing
12 7/10/09

 Field Work

Burke Rd Billabong
13 14/10/09

 Field Work

Burke Rd Billabong
14 21/10/09  Work Placements
15 28/10/09  Water Testing
16 4/11/09  Genetic Diversity and Island Populations
17 11/11/09  Class Presentations
18 18/11/09  END SEMESTER


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References

Barr N & Cary J. 1992. Greening a Brown Land: an Australian search for sustainable land use. Macmillan Education Australia Pty Lty, Sth Melbourne, Vic, Australia.

Bradley, J. 1998. Bringing back THE BUSH – The Bradley method of bush regeneration. Lansdowne – Rigby Publishers, NSW, Australia.

Buchanan, R. A. 1989. Bush Regeneration – Recovering Australian Landscapes. Open Training and Education Network, TAFE, NSW, Australia.

Department of Conservation and Environment. 1990. Remnant Native Grasslands and Grassy Woodlands of the Melbourne Area – an action plan for conservation based on biological values. Victorian Government Publication, Vic.

Lindenmayer, D. and Burgman, M. 2005. Practical Conservation Biology. CSIRO Publishing, Victoria, Australia.

Stephens, S. and Maxwell, S. (eds), 1996. Back from the Brink – Refining the Threatened Species Recovery Process. Surrey Beatty & Sons Pty Ltd, NSW, Australia.


Other Resources

WEBSITES:
Society for Ecological Restoration online:
htpp://www.ser.org


SER Restoration Primer
http://www.ser.org/content/ecological_restoration_primer.asp


http://www.esa.org


Online journals :


Restoration Ecology

Restoration Ecology


Thinking Bush


Journal of Applied Ecology


Conservation


Overview of Assessment

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


Assessment Tasks

 

ASSESSMENT 1.

CASE STUDIES OF RESTORATION SITES.


In the first half of the semester we study 4 different sites that have undergone or are currently undergoing restoration work.
You are to choose 2 of these sites and provide comprehensive answers – with references - to the following questions for each site.
Each site should be treated as a separate case study – ie. You should hand in two documents – one for each site.

In the first half of the semester we study 4 different sites that have undergone or are currently undergoing restoration work. You are to choose 2 of these sites and provide comprehensive answers – with references - to the following questions for each site. Each site should be treated as a separate case study – ie. You should hand in two documents – one for each site.


REMEMBER: You have been provided with a list of reference books, articles and websites to ensure that you provide informed and accurate information.


1. Provide an ecological historical background for the site. This should include past land uses, and discussion regarding the original flora/fauna of the site.
2. What were/are the main objectives of the restoration program. Describe them.
3. Outline the major threats to ecosystem functioning at the site. Eg. Weed invasion, urban encroachment.
4. What ‘normal’ periodic stress may occur at the site?
5. Outline the restoration methods that are being applied at the site? Discuss why they are seen as appropriate
6. Outline some of the successes and some of the failures of restoration at the site?
7. The term ‘restoration’ is used to describe many land management projects. Using the definitions of restoration outlined by Buchanan and Bradley and the SER Restoration Primer would you describe this project as a restoration project? Discuss.

ASSESSMENT 2.

WRITTEN REPORT ON BURKE RD BILLABONG RESTORATION PROJECT

Week 1
1. Draw a diagram of your area and colour code the quality of the vegetation using the attached colour coded rating system and rating matrix.
2. Make a list of 6 weeds which you wish to target at your site.
3. Identify whether you have any significant vegetation on your site.


Week 2
Outline some of the issues assisting and or hindering restoration of the site.


Week 3
Develop a matrix that outlines the major management issues that should be tackled at your site over a 3 year period. Use the matrix to prioritise work and outline strategies that you would apply to achieve the work. This could include aspects such as:


- timing of weed control to avoid seeding periods of certain species
- plant species that you may wish to introduce to enhance the site
- information that you may need to give to indigenous nurseries to ensure that plant species are ready for seasonal planting etc.
- protection processes for certain species
- Include any other strategies that you wish to introduce that might enhance the restoration process?


Week 4
Provide a brief discussion on whether restoring small urban sites, such as Burke Rd Billabong, is an appropriate use of time resources and $$.  

(NB:USE REFERENCES TO SUPPORT YOUR ARGUMENT).

ASSESSMENT 3.


RESTORATION POSTER OR POWER POINT AND CLASS PRESENTATION.


This assessment is to be done in groups of 3 or 4.

You are to develop a digital or quality free hand poster OR a power point presentation which outlines the steps required to restore a specific ecosystem, eg. Wetlands, grasslands.
Each group will present the poster/powerpoint to the class.
Assessment will be in the form of a peer review – where members of the class will review each other’s work.
The presentation must be NO LONGER than 10 minutes and ALL members of the group MUST present.


Assessment Matrix

Course Overview: Access Course Overview