NATURE PARK MANAGEMENT I BEN120

Study Nature (National) Park Management via Online Learning

"Develop sound principles of natural park management"

COURSE STRUCTURE
There are Fifteen lessons as follows:

1. The Environment, Plants & Animals
2. Introduction To Native Plants
3. Soils
4. Gardening Skills & Techniques
5. Basic Landscape Design Procedure
6. Landscape Draughting & Contracting
7. Design Of Nature/Wilderness Parks
8. Weed Control
9. Pest & Disease Management In Plants
10. Culture Of Native Plants
11. Plant Nutrition
12. Pruning & Tree Surgery
13. Turf Care A
14. Turf Care B
15. Reabilitation: Problems & Solutions

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

 What qualification will I achieve for completing this course?

This is an individual module course. The individual module courses are 100 hour long usually and can be taken on their own or as part of a larger program of study.

If you wish to take an individual module course as a stand alone course, you can elect to sit an optional exam at the end of it.

If you successfully pass the exam and all assignments, you will receive a Statement of Attainment. You can take examinations at a time and location to suit you. If you enrol, you will be sent further information on how to arrange examinations at the end of the course.

If you do not wish to take the exam, you will receive a Course Completion letter when you have passed all assignments.

There is an assignment at the end of each lesson. So for example, if an individual module course contains ten lessons, you will need to complete ten assignments. Assignments can be sent to us via email, post or fax.

Other qualifications, such as certificates, diplomas etc may require examinations to be taken as part of the overall assessment process.

You can find further information on the examinations process by clicking on the “Enrolment” link above.

You can find further information on other courses by clicking on the “Courses” link above.

AIMS

• Explain the importance of the interrelationships between various components of a natural environment within an ecosystem.
• Develop management strategies for soils within a natural ecosystem.
• Develop management strategies for plant maintenance practices, in nature parks.
• Design a nature park, or a section within a nature park.
• Develop management strategies for the control of weed problems in a nature park.
• Develop management strategies for the rehabilitation of degraded sites in a nature park.

WHAT THE COURSE COVERS
Here are just some of the things you will be doing:

• Differentiate between different categories or types of nature parks.
• Determine thirty living components of a specific ecosystem, studied by you.
• Determine ten non-living components of a specific ecosystem, studied by you.
• Prepare a labelled diagram to illustrate the interrelationships between at least fifteen different components of an ecosystem.
• Explain the possible impact of removing two different specified organisms from a specified ecosystem.
• Explain the potential impact of adding two specified, non indigenous organisms, to a specified ecosystem.
• Explain how different soil characteristics can impact upon an ecosystem.
• Describe the physical characteristics of at least three different soils, which are of significant to the stability of their ecosystems.
• Assess aspects of soil dynamics on a site, including: -Topography -Soil life -Susceptibility to degradation -Sunlight (canopy penetration).
• Compare the likely implications of using three different types of fertilisers, including: -Benefit to plants -Method of use -Environmental impact.
• Explain the use of different soil conditioners including: -pH modifiers -Ameliorants -Organic matter.
• Determine the plant maintenance requirements of a specific nature park visited and assessed by you.
• Develop guidelines for the care of new plantations in a nature park visited by you.
• Compare the suitability of three different types of grass cutting equipment, for mowing a specific park.
• Compare the likely environmental impact of three different types of pesticides or herbicides, if used on a specific site.
• Determine the significance to plant populations, of containment of different outputs, on a specified site, including: -water runoff -chemical spray drift -effluent -pollutants.
• Prepare a plant collection of sixty plants.
• Determine categories of landscape developments which are carried out in different types of nature parks, including: -Wildlife Reserves -Zoos -Sanctuaries -National Parks -Forest Reserves -Vegetation corridors.
• Evaluate the designs of two different sections, of different nature parks, against given criteria.
• Collect pre-planning information for the development of a site, within a nature park.
• Prepare two concept plans for a nature park development, including: -existing features -clear labelling -legend -scale -north indicator.
• Compare features of two nature park concept plans.
• Plan the construction of a landscape development within a nature park, including: -materials lists (types and quantities of materials); -plan of proposed landscape development; -list of manpower and equipment requirements; -a work schedule.
• Estimate the cost of construction in accordance with a specified landscape plan.
• Estimate the cost of maintaining a specified section of a park, for a three month period.
• Explain the impact of weeds on two natural environments in the learners locality, using examples.
• Prepare a weed collection, of twenty different weeds.
• Describe two different weed problems, in two different nature parks.
• Explain five different weed seed dispersal mechanisms, for weed species collected.
• Compare alternative control methods for a specified weed problem.
• Select appropriate control methods for ten different specified weed problems.
• Develop guidelines for weed control, in a nature park inspected by you.
• Develop a management plan to reinstate indigenous flora on a specific site.
• Explain the causes of three specified types of site degradation.
• Describe five different techniques for controlling site degradation.
• Describe five different techniques for repairing site degradation.
• Describe degraded sites at two different natural areas, inspected by you.
• Prepare construction details for work to be undertaken in the rehabilitation of a degraded site inspected by you.
• Develop a management plan for a degraded site, in a natural area visited by the learner

  More Information on ACS Distance Education and our courses

  Who are our tutors?

  Our tutors are all highly experienced and professional, knowledgeable in their field of study. We have staff from around the world, enabling us to gain a wide variety of perspectives. We have a school in the UK and in Australia. If you would like to have a look at our tutors, then click on the “The School” in the boxes above and choose “The Staff” option.

  Sample Course Notes

  Our courses are all written by highly qualified tutors and writers, who also teach on the courses, so know them well. We strive to update our courses and improve them with new information, methods and knowledge on an ongoing basis. If you would like to see examples of some of our courses, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, and then click on “Sample Course Notes”.

  What learning method should I choose?

  We offer three learning methods – e-learning, correspondence and online. If you are not sure which is the right choose for you, then click on the “Enrolment” box above, then “Learning Methods.”

  How Long will it take to complete the course?

  This obviously varies from student to student. Some students will have more time for study than others. Some students may work quicker than others, so it is an individual thing. We estimate that most students will take, for example, 4 – 6 months to complete a 100 hour individual module, but we allow up to 12 months for you to complete it.

  Longer courses will obviously take longer. You can find more information on the length of time required and so on the “Enrolment” box, then selecting “Terms and Conditions of Enrolment.”

  What Do Our Students think of us?

  If you would like to read comments from our previous students, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, then “Student Testimonials”.

  I don’t think this is the right course for me.

  If you’re not sure about this course, then why not look at our wide range of other courses. Click on the “Courses” box above.

  You may also wish to design your own course to fit in with exactly what YOU want. To do so, click on the “Enrolment” box, then “Design your Own Course”.

  If you would like more advice on a course, then you can contact us and ask a tutor about the courses. You can contact us by calling 0800 328 4723 or +44(0) 384 442752 or emailing info@acsedu.co.uk

  Recognition and Accreditation

  For more information on our recognition and accreditation, click on “The School”, then “Recognition”.

  Who is ACS Distance Education?

  If you want to know more about ACS and our history, then please click on “The School”, then “About us.”

   

  Career Tips

  Qualifications are essential for furthering your career in Environmental Science, however there are many other things you can do to get ahead. These include:

  * experience tips - unpaid or paid, experience is highly valued by future employers.

  * networking tips - become a member of relevant environmental/nature park networking groups and join website groups related to your field.

  * membership - become a member of relevant groups in your field eg. the Mammal Society or Bird Observer Clubs. This is another way to demonstrate your commitment to your career.

DISTANCE LEARNING COURSE - NATURE PARK MANAGEMENT

"Develop sound principles of natural park management"

Learn about natural environments, and the management of zoos, wildlife parks, nature reserves. The course covers many of the fundamental tasks which people who work in such parks need to do; including weed control, soil management, land rehabilitation, landscape construction, etc.