Diploma in Nature Conservation

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to supply the nature conservation industry with competent Nature Conservators and Resource Managers who are able to manage a conservation team efficiently.

Learners achieving this qualification will be competent to manage natural resources sustainably, interpret the environment, enforce the appropriate legislation and demonstrate basic knowledge of research.

Rationale

To cater for the manpower needs of the various conservation organisations, and to provide for self-employment opportunities by providing students with both a theoretical and practical background in the various fields of expertise. This background will enhance the student's competence as a Conservator and improve the productive worth to potential employers, to the natural environment and to the country.

This is a functional and well recognised qualification, which is a prerequisite for appointment and promotion as a Nature Conservator.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Students are provided with the specific outcomes of the programme and required to provide a portfolio of evidence supporting their application and providing documented support (reports, certificates, line manager references, etc.) for having met all the outcomes. This evidence is reviewed by an examiner and moderator before a specific recommendation regarding the application is tabled before the Faculty Board and the Board's recommendation is then tabled before Senate for approval.

Entry Requirements

Selection criteria for admission to the National Diploma: Nature Conservation are based on both academic prowess and field experience. Students wishing to be admitted to this National Diploma are required to be in possession of a National Senior Certificate as certified by Umalusi with an achievement rating of 4 (Adequate Achievement, 50-59%) or better in Life Sciences and English Home Language or English First Additional Language.

In addition an achievement rating of 3 (Moderate Achievement, 40-49%) or better will be required in an additional two National Senior Certificate (NSC) 20-Credit subjects.

For those students with a Senior Certificate (or equivalent), the requirement is a minimum of a "D" symbol in English and Biology on the Higher Grade. A pass mark in Mathematics, Physical Science, or History/Geography will be a recommendation.

In addition, a student's completed application form must be accompanied by a Curriculum Vitae detailing interests, hobbies, field experience and references indicating the candidate's working success, enthusiasm and suitability for the course.

Semester I

• Animal Studies I, 18 Credits.
• Computer Usage, 18 Credits.
• English Communication Skills, 18 Credits.
• Conservation Ecology I, 18 Credits.
• Plant Studies I, 18 Credits.

Semester II

• Conservation Administration I, 18 Credits.
• Animal Studies II, 18 Credits.
• Conservation Ecology II, 18 Credits.
• Resource Management I, 18 Credits.
• Plant Studies II, 18 Credits.

Semester III

• Resource Management II, 18 Credits.
• Animal Studies III, 18 Credits.
• Conservation Ecology III, 18 Credits.
• Conservation Development I, 18 Credits.
• Conservation Communication I, 18 Credits.

Semester IV

• Plant Studies III, 20 Credits.
• Resource Management III, 20 Credits.
• Soil Science I, 20 Credits.
• Conservation Communication II, 20 Credits.

Semester V

• Nature Conservation Application I.

Semester VI

• Nature Conservation Application II.

1. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of the Natural Environment.
2. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of human influence on ecosystems.
3. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of environmental conservation.
4. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of environmental planning and management.
5. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of soil conservation.
6. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of reclamation practices.
7. Identify appropriate vegetation.
8. Monitor veld.
9. Evaluate veld.
10. Manage appropriate vegetation.
11. Manage animals.
12. Select a game farm.
13. Determine appropriate game species and numbers.
14. Provide water for game.
15. Provide supplementary feed for game.
16. Perform appropriate cropping and handling of game.
17. Capture and transport game.
18. Manage predators.
19. Manage veld.
20. Compile appropriate feeding studies.
21. Manage appropriate infrastructure.
22. Apply appropriate legislation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Appropriate current terminology is understood and applied.
• Knowledge of general ecology is understood and applied.
• Knowledge of climate is understood and applied.
• Knowledge of geology is understood and applied.
• Knowledge of geomorphology and soils is understood and applied.
• Knowledge of hydrology is understood and applied.
• Knowledge of plants is understood and applied.
• Knowledge of animals is understood and applied.
• Knowledge of sensitive ecosystems is understood and applied.
• Knowledge of the human environment is understood and applied.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Appropriate current terminology is understood and applied.
• Knowledge of the relationship between human utilisation of land and geology is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of the relationship between human utilisation of land and geomorphology and soils is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of human influences on the water cycle is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of human influences on plant communities is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of animal reactions under environmental pressure is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of human influences on ecosystems is demonstrated and applied

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Appropriate current terminology is understood and applied.
• Knowledge of environmental conservation is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of resources is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of environmental degradation is demonstrated and applied.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Appropriate current terminology is understood and applied.
• Knowledge of sustainable development id demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of national and international lobbies/actions is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of environmental auditing and evaluation systems is demonstrated and applied.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Appropriate current terminology is understood and applied.
• Knowledge of soil conservation is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of soil erosion is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of soil conservation practices is demonstrated and applied.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Appropriate current terminology is understood and applied.
• Knowledge of disturbed and derelict areas is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of the treatment of derelict sites is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of reclamation site management is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of costs and cost estimation is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of alternative land uses is demonstrated and applied.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Appropriate current terminology is understood and applied.
• Knowledge of veld conservation and deterioration is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of vegetation diversity in South Africa is demonstrated and applied.
• Vegetation is divided into different levels accurately.
• Knowledge of development and defoliation reaction of grasses and woody plants is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of plant - animal interaction is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of plant ingredients id demonstrated and applied.
• Grasses, trees and shrubs are identified accurately.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Appropriate current terminology is understood and applied.
• Knowledge of the nature and extent of veld monitoring is demonstrated and applied.
• Comparison between veld monitoring and veld evaluation is made accurately.
• Knowledge of veld monitoring methods is demonstrated and applied.
• Appropriate veld monitoring methods are selected.
• Appropriate equipment is operated effectively.
• Veld monitoring is effective.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9

• Appropriate current terminology is understood and applied.
• Knowledge of vegetation characteristics is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of nature and extent of veld evaluation is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of increaser - decreaser veld evaluation is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of new developments is demonstrated and applied.
• Veld evaluation is accurate.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10

• Appropriate current terminology is understood and applied.
• Knowledge of fire as a vegetation management tool is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of control methods of problem plants is demonstrated and applied.
• Appropriate plants are identified accurately.
• Appropriate plants are collected effectively.
• Appropriate control method is selected and implemented effectively.
• Appropriate equipment is operated effectively.
• Knowledge of endangered plant communities is demonstrated and applied.
• Endangered plant communities are managed effectively.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 11

• Appropriate current terminology is understood and applied.
• Knowledge of habitat selection is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of social behaviour is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of feeding behaviour is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of adaptations is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of zoogeography of vertebrates is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of population genetics is demonstrated and applied.
• Appropriate animals are captured effectively.
• Appropriate animals are transported effectively.
• Appropriate animals are released effectively.
• Water requirements are met.
• Breeding programme is established and implemented effectively.
• Appropriate equipment is operated effectively.
• Animals are managed effectively.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 12

• Appropriate current terminology is understood and applied.
• Knowledge of the game industry is demonstrated and applied.
• Financial implications are considered.
• Objectives are established effectively.
• Utilisation alternatives are considered.
• Game farm is selected effectively.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 13

• Appropriate current terminology is understood and applied.
• Knowledge of appropriate habitat requirements and characteristics is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of primary food and feeding characteristics is demonstrated and applied
• Carrying capacity is understood.
• Stocking rate is determined accurately.
• Knowledge of appropriate feeders is demonstrated and applied.
• knowledge of browsers is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of large stock units is demonstrated and applied
• Knowledge of population dynamics is demonstrated and applied.
• Appropriate game species and numbers are selected effectively.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 14

• Factors influencing types of watering points are considered
• Knowledge of the conditions and requirements for ideal watering points is demonstrated and applied.
• Advantages and disadvantages of water point types are considered.
• Water needs of appropriate game are considered.
• Appropriate equipment is operated effectively.
• Water needs of appropriate game are met.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 15

• Knowledge of digestibility is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of feed intake is demonstrated an applied.
• Knowledge of chemical composition is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of acceptability is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of availability is demonstrated and applied.
• Knowledge of licks is demonstrated and applied.
• Appropriate equipment is operated effectively.
• Supplementary feed is provided effectively.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 16

• Knowledge of an ideal cropping system is demonstrated and applied.
• Appropriate objectives are established.
• Appropriate time/season is selected accurately.
• Appropriate cropping method is selected.
• Guidelines are followed effectively.
• Appropriate equipment is operated effectively.
• Cropping is effective.
• Handling of carcasses is effective.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 17

• Appropriate current terminology is understood and applied.
• Appropriate method is selected effectively.
• Immobilisation is effective.
• Mechanical capturing is effective.
• Appropriate equipment is operated effectively.
• Game is transported effectively.
• Knowledge of game auctions is demonstrated and applied.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 18

• Appropriate current terminology is understood and applied.
• Knowledge of predator prey interactions is demonstrated and applied.
• Impact of predators is understood.
• Knowledge of appropriate management practices is demonstrated and applied.
• Guidelines to reduce the impact of predators on domestic stock are followed effectively.
• Predators are managed effectively.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 19

• Appropriate current terminology is understood and applied.
• Objectives are established effectively.
• Knowledge of the relationship between veld, soil and water is demonstrated and applied.
• Importance of veld is understood.
• Appropriate equipment is operated effectively.
• Veld is managed effectively.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 20

• Appropriate current terminology is understood and applied.
• Knowledge of factors influencing food selection is demonstrated and applied.
• Questions to study food selection are applied effectively
• Appropriate equipment is operated effectively.
• Feeding study is accurate.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 21

• Game fences are erected and maintained effectively.
• Roads are selected and placed effectively.
• Roads are constructed and maintained effectively.
• Buildings are selected and placed effectively.
• Buildings are constructed and maintained effectively.
• Vehicles are selected, operated and maintained effectively.
• Firebreaks are used effectively.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 22

• Knowledge of appropriate legislation is demonstrated and applied.

Integrated Assessment

Assessment is continuous and done on the following basis

Formative Assessment

• Assignments.
• Written tests.
• Practical tests.
• Mini projects.
• Research project.
• Reports.
• Oral evaluation.
• Presentations.

Summative Assessment

• Written examinations.
• Practical examinations.
• A portfolio of work is compiled and assessed.
• Portfolio records are kept as per requirements.

Work Integrated Learning

• Assessed against Key Performance Areas by.
• Mentor evaluations.
• Project submissions.
• Personal portfolios.