NATURE PARK MANAGEMENT I BEN120

Home Study Nature Park Management Course

"Develop sound principles of natural park management".

Course Content

There are 12 lessons in this module as follows:

1. Introduction to Nature Park Management – the role and scope of nature parks; the importance of indigenous vegetation in nature parks.

2. Basic Ecology – the environment, plants and animals; ecosystem concepts.

3. Soil Management in Nature Parks – soil characteristics and problems; earthworks.

4. Plant Maintenance – basic gardening techniques; natural gardening; plant selection; succession planting; equipment.

5. Design of Nature/Wilderness Parks I – collecting site information; preparing concept plans.

6. Design of Nature/Wilderness Parks II – drawing the final plan; construction estimates; designing animal enclosures.

7. Weed Management – characteristics of weeds; weed control; environmental weeds.

8. Pest and Disease Management – management strategies; chemical safety.

9. Culture of Indigenous Plants – techniques for establishing vegetation; planting design.

10. Tree Management – role of trees in nature parks; tree maintenance plans; pruning and tree surgery.

11. Turf Care – turf varieties in nature parks; lawn preparation, establishment and maintenance.

12. Rehabilitation: Problems and Solutions – aims and strategies; soil problems and solutions in degraded sites.

COURSE AIMS

On completion of the course you should be able to do the following:
* 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 YOU WILL DO IN THIS COURSE
Here are just some of the things you may 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 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 different types of pesticides used on a specific site.
-Determine the significance to plant populations, of containment of different outpus, 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, you inspect.
-Prepare construction details for work to be undertaken in the rehabilitation of a degraded site you inspect.
-Develop a management plan for a degraded site, in a natural area you visit.

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Distance Learning Nature Park Management Course

"Develop sound principles of natural park management".

Develop a sound understanding of the natural environment and basic ecological principles.

Learn a range of skills from basic gardening and nature park design to erosion control, weed control and tree surgery.

Improve your job prospects in nature park management.