Skills Programme – 63109
144 Credits at NQF Level 4
Further Education and Training Certificate: Nature Conservation: Natural Resource Guardianship Terrestrial his qualification is intended for learners who are employed as conservation workers at an intermediate level. It represents an important opportunity for career advancement within the field of nature conservation for anyone employed in the industry. The functions to be performed in this capacity are carried out under a lessening degree of supervision by senior staff. At this level the conservation worker enjoys an increasing degree of autonomy in carrying out his or her daily job functions.
Learners who have achieved this qualification will be able to perform a multiple set of roles and functions in order to assist with the management of a designated conservation area. Individuals qualifying against the qualification will play a supportive role in the day-to-day management of the area, knowledgeably assisting senior officials in the implementation of conservation management plans through applying natural resource guardianship principles. Support functions will include:
- Adapting and maintaining a staff roster.
- Identifying and assisting in the eradication of invasive species.
- Assisting in veld burn operations.
- Assisting in game removal operations.
- Assisting in the control of damage causing animals.
- Monitoring and regulating resource harvesting.
- Assisting in the implementation of a conservation management plan.
In particular, the qualifying learner will be able to:
- Perform field operations in support of conservation management objectives in the area of operation.
- Liaise with local communities affected by conservation management plans to meet conservation management objectives.
- Perform operational support functions to facilitate the accomplishment of work activities.
These three main operational focus areas reflected in the qualification, define the main operational and vocational objectives across the career path resulting from this qualification and related qualification stream. The skills and competencies gained in the Level 4 qualification enables the qualifying learner to provide operational leadership at intermediate level in conservation resources guardianship whilst ensuring that the understanding gained of the environment as well as conservation ethics is applied in the sector in one of the following positions:
- Game ranger/Senior Game ranger.
- Field ranger/Lance Corporal/Corporal.
- Nature Conservation Worker/Chief Nature Conservation worker.