Higher Certificate in Forestry Management

Purpose

The Higher Certificate in Forestry Management aims to provide industry and society at large with graduates with a set of knowledge, skills, and applied competencies to contribute to sustainable forest management, towards social, environmental, and economic transformation. The qualification further aims to build capacity towards efficient management and improvement of the forestry operations through innovation and entrepreneurship, contributing to the wellbeing of society, as well as an awareness of the environment, creating opportunities for active participation in the forestry resource management and production economy.

On completion of this qualification, the learner will be able to actively engage in operational, supervisory and/or related strategic matters, within forestry production and management areas. The learner will also be able to plan, manage and delegate processes and responsibilities under the command of a professional.

Upon completion of this qualification, a qualifying learner will be able to

• Demonstrate an informed understanding of the core areas, key terms, concepts, facts, general principles, rules and theories of forestry management, as well as an awareness of how the related bodies of knowledge developed and evolved.
• Select and apply standard methods, procedures, or techniques within the fields of Forestry Management to plan and manage implementation processes within well-defined, familiar and supported settings and contexts.
• Collect, select, and process forestry management information relating to various integrated systems, to effectively manage operations, and resources and communicate with integrity, using a range of techniques appropriate to a related forestry environment.
• Monitor individual or team performance with regards to forestry operations and resource management and take appropriate actions to affect improvement; and manage own learning and related strategies within a structured environment to promote and enhance the learning of team members or subordinates.
• Account for own actions and work cooperatively during various forestry operations, taking supervisory responsibility for others.

Rationale

The need for sustainable forest management continues to gain traction domestically and internationally and as such, efforts to balance the demand and supply of forest products and services and/or ecological land use benefits remains significant. Also, the available forest land in South Africa is severely limited. It is therefore important to identify a qualification that will impart prospective learners with the required knowledge and skills to manage this critical resource, including forestry entrepreneurial and technical skills, as well as a clear understanding of sustainable forest management practices.

Through this qualification, it is also envisaged that the challenges affecting the sustainable management of forest plantations and indigenous and natural forests domestically would be addressed by bridging the knowledge and skills gap between the field supervisors and foresters in the management of forest operations. Furthermore, this disparity in the knowledge and skills between the level of supervisors, foresters and managers continues to adversely impact the achievement of sustainable forest management at scale.

This qualification is geared to provide the prospective learners with the set of knowledge and skills to manage various forestry operations in a sustainable manner while at the same time contributing significantly to the socio-economic and livelihood development of the broader South African society, most often in rural areas severely impacted by the triple social ills of poverty, inequality, and unemployment.

This qualification will also focus on providing access to working individuals in forestry operations supervision and management towards the fostering of a credible qualified workforce. Throughout this qualification, the learner will be equipped with the necessary skills to design, develop, maintain, and manage amongst others, but not limited to, forest operations management processes and sustainable forest management principles.

Qualifying learners will be able to play an operational, supervisory, and strategic role in the workforce. Learners will benefit through self and professional development in their field of work, providing them with the knowledge, skills, and applied competencies to play an operational, supervisory and/or strategic role in the plantation and indigenous forest resource management environment. As such, skilled workers at this level will contribute immensely to the socio-economic development and upliftment of all communities in South Africa through sustainability and the development of a safe and healthy environment.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advancement within qualifications. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify.

RPL for access

• Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.
• To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations.

RPL for exemption of modules

• Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted from modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module.

RPL for credit

• Learners may also apply for RPL for credit for or towards the qualification, in which they must provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to obtain credits towards the qualification.
• Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• National Senior Certificate (NSC), NQF Level 4 granting access to Higher Certificate studies.

Or

• National Certificate (Vocational) (NCV), NQF Level 4 granting access to Higher Certificate studies

Or

• Senior Certificate (SC) without endorsement, NQF Level 4.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 5 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, NQF Level 5, totalling 120 Credits.

• Computer Literacy, 10 Credits.
• Mathematics and Statistics, 12 Credits.
• Forestry Science and Silviculture, 24 Credits.
• Forestry Engineering, 24 Credits.
• Life Skills, 2 Credits.
• Communication for Academic Purposes, 10 Credits.
• Forestry Management Practice and Professionalism (WIL), 24 Credits.
• Forestry Management, 12 Credits.
• Information Literacy, 2 Credits.

1. Demonstrate an informed understanding of the core areas, key terms, concepts, facts, general principles, rules, and theories of forestry management, as well as an awareness of how the related bodies of knowledge developed and evolved.
2. Select and apply standard methods, procedures, or techniques within the fields of Forestry Management to plan and manage implementation processes within well-defined, familiar, and supported settings and contexts.
3. Collect, select, and process forestry management information relating to various integrated systems, to effectively manage operations, and resources and communicate with integrity, using a range of techniques appropriate to a related forestry environment.
4. Monitor individual or team performance with regards to forestry operations and resource management and take appropriate actions to affect improvement; and manage own learning and related strategies within a structured environment to promote and enhance the learning of team members or subordinates.
5. Account for own actions and work cooperatively during various forestry operations, taking supervisory responsibility for others.
6. Demonstrate the ability to take account of and act in accordance with prescribed organisational and professional ethical codes of conduct.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Identify and describe the various aspects underpinning a production cycle for example. a plant or animal production cycle.
• Identify and describe the production cycle for a selected commodity, e.g. sheep farming, crop production and poultry.
• Read, interpret, and implement a production schedule.
• Plan and coordinate resources and inputs required for the production process.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Describe the management functions associated with a farming enterprise.
• Identify and describe the various management activities and responsibilities involved in running a production unit.
• Compile a one-year budget for a production unit.
• Identify potential risks and develop a basic risk mitigation plan.
• Compile a basic production plan for a selected commodity.
• Establish the key farming practice to comply with South African Labour Law.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Establish monitoring processes and practices for the identification of potential problems associated with farm infrastructure and/or equipment.
• Apply a problem-solving methodology to define and address the problem.
• Communicate the problem to relevant stakeholders.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Identify and describe the functions of the relevant equipment and machinery associated with the production plan of the commodity.
• Safely and effectively operate the relevant machinery and equipment in a farm.
• Plan and coordinate effective maintenance of machinery and equipment according to schedule.
• Apply precision technology in the production of different commodities.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Identify and describe the natural resources to produce a specific commodity.
• Describe water requirements for the production of a selected commodity.
• Identify and describe the soil profile in the farming unit.
• Explain how to maintain optimal soil health, specific to the selected commodity.
• Conduct a basic veld survey and describe the vegetation in terms of its relevance to animal production.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Describe the roles and responsibilities of the members of a production team for a selected farming enterprise.
• Establish mechanisms for effective communication.