Lesson 2 – Recovery of Threatened Species - Loss of species – categories of risk; Species; vulnerability to endangerment; Recovery of species and threat management; Habitat Conservation – identifying critical habitat and protecting habitat; Research – population growth, habitat use and conservation genetics; Captive breeding; Translocation; and Public involvement.
Lesson 3 – Habitat Conservation - Habitat; Types of Habitat – eg. temperate and tropical forests, woodland, tundra and mangrove habitats; Habitat Use; Species Richness; Habitat Fragmentation; Creating Habitats; Restoration Ecology – creating habitat corridors, situating corridors, types of corridors, edge effects; Habitat Rehabilitation – implementing a land management program, determining objectives, determining a program; The Role of GIS in Conservation; The Role of Protected Areas – levels of protection, approaches to reserve selection and limitation of reserves.
Lesson 4 – Approaches to Conservation of Threatened Wildlife - Species Approach – modelling demography, effective population size, small populations, population viability analysis (PVA); Landscape Approach – elements of landscape ecology, distribution of populations within a landscape, landscape modelling; Ecosystem Approach – the need for ecosystem management, understanding dynamics, adaptive management, objectives for ecologically sustainable forest management.
Lesson 5 - Vegetation Surveys - Plant Identification – common names, scientific names, levels of division, botanical keys; Vegetation survey techniques such as quadrant surveys, landscape assessments, line surveys; Vegetation Mapping – remote sensing data.
Lesson 6 – Fauna Surveys - Observation techniques – spotlighting, scat surveys, census techniques; Trapping Techniques – radio tracking, call recordings, pit fall traps, Elliot traps; Species identification
Lesson 7 – Marine Surveys - Reef Surveys; Habitat Surveys; Aerial Surveys; Overexploitation; Commercial Fish Stock Management
Lesson 8 – Planning for Wildlife - Farm Planning; Urban Planning; and the use of GIS in Planning
Lesson 9 – Management - Managing Threatened Wildlife Populations – manipulating populations, revegetation/restoration, creating corridors, pest control plans, fencing for species, fire breaks.
Lesson 10 – Wildlife Conservation Project
Aims
*Develop a concept of the guiding principles of wildlife conservation and the threats to wildlife.
*Determine the principles and approaches used towards species recovery.
*Discuss the principles of habitat conservation with regards to fragmentation, restoration and the use of protected areas.
*Describe and discuss the various approaches used to conserve threatened species and ecosystems.
*Appreciate the range of flora survey techniques that have been developed to sample fauna for the purposes of conservation.
*Discuss and differentiate between fauna survey techniques that have been developed to sample fauna for the purposes of conservation.
*Discuss and differentiate between marine survey techniques used to conserve wildlife.
*Discuss and differentiate the range of planning tools available for farming, urban and residential planning to help conserve wildlife.
*Identify various management techniques used to conserve wildlife.
*Develop a wildlife recovery plan for a species under threat.
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.
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.”
Why Choose to study with ACS?
- Service –We put the student first; tutors and administration
can be contacted 5 days a week, 50 weeks of the year, by phone or email. - We provide better Learning – we’ve been delivering distance
education for over 3 decades, and we understand how people learn by home study.
Our methods are unique, developed through trial and error always with our focus
squarely on helping you learn. - Up to Date –We are continually revising and updating
courses. We listen to our students feedback and we always improve the course if
a change is identified that will help significantly improve your learning. - More Choice –Graduates need a set of skills that will set
them apart and give them an advantage over competition in the world after
study. We have a wide variety of study choices, and give you lots of options to
choose different paths throughout a course. Doing this has meant an ACS
graduate is always different to other ACS graduates; and that difference has
made our graduates very successful. - No Short Cuts –You can’t take short cuts in learning; and
that is why our courses are often longer than what you find elsewhere. Sure,
anyone can study a short course, quickly sit an exam (while the information is
fresh) and pass; but if you want to really understand something and retain it,
that takes time. - More than just Learning Facts –We understand that success in
the workplace or business requires you to not only learn things, but also build
networks, understand the commercial world, be able to solve problems, communicate
with people, and have an attitude that will function in your chosen industry.
Our courses are designed to develop all of these things.
