Eco Ranger Skills Programme (60 credits at NQF Level 4)

Teacher

Introduction

Welcome to the Eco-Ranger skills programme. Eco-Ranging is an exciting and rewarding career in the well-established nature conservation sector. It can lead to employment opportunities in South Africa and almost anywhere in the world where you choose to work.

This skills programme is accredited under the QCTO. This South African accreditation body ensures that quality standards and relevance in occupational qualifications are met in the development and implementation by training providers.

A skills programme is a unit of learning that leads to an employable skill and earns credits on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) towards a qualification. The Eco-Ranger skills programme is 60 credits at NQF Level 4. As a general rule of thumb, 1 credit will require 10 hours of theoretical and practical learning. So this skills programme will take you 600 hours of learning – this is approximately 75 days or 15 weeks if done full-time, but each training provider will have their own unique learning schedule that may range from 4 months (full-time) to a year (part-time).

This skills programme comprises 60% or 36 credits of theory (Knowledge Modules) and 40% or 24 credits of practice (Practical/Application Modules).

Rationale

In recent years, the Nature Conservation Sector in South Africa has undergone various changes caused by a changing environment under which conservationists operate. These have come with a shift in the skills needs by the conservation workforce. Owing to the ongoing 21st-century environmental problems, which include environmental degradation caused mainly by anthropogenic (human-caused) activities, poaching of protected animals and overuse of natural resources, the need for a workforce that is armed with relevant competencies has become greater.

Eco-ranger, as an emerging occupation, takes occupational tasks from field rangers and has, in the main, both biodiversity conservation and monitoring as its main responsibilities. Unlike field ranger, which is about protecting wildlife inside the protected areas, the Eco-ranger’s responsibilities further encompass both plant and animal species as important components in the ecosystem inside and outside protected areas.

The skills program is part of plans to create formal programs for CET Colleges nationwide. Besides this, the program offers its learners an opportunity to get onto a route towards being biodiversity monitors as it provides theoretical and practical grounding enough for them to find jobs within the environmental sector. The program further contains outcomes that will enable learners to establish their own businesses within the biodiversity conservation sector.

Learners entering this program are a combination of new entrants in the conservation sector and experienced or older individuals who have been performing jobs at lower levels but have acquired enough competencies to move to higher levels of responsibilities. The latter type of learners includes individuals that work as assistants in protected areas with various manual jobs.

This program is a response to various changes that have taken place within the broader environmental conservation sector in South Africa. These changes are mostly characterised and caused by the need for greater efforts in adapting and mitigating the effects of climate change, and they come with requisites of new knowledge and skills. Various government and civic society-led initiatives have led to a need to create a new generation of Eco-Rangers who will help in monitoring biodiversity and contribute towards the protection of wildlife.

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare learners to use knowledge of biodiversity monitoring, processes, concepts, systems, and living and non-living organisms within ecology and wildlife conservation contexts to perform tasks that are aimed at contributing to the effective conservation of biodiversity and protection of natural resources, plants and animal species in and outside of protected areas.

A qualified learner will be able to:

Apply knowledge of principles, processes, systems, organisms and concepts relevant to ecology and wildlife conservation with the purpose of performing biodiversity monitoring tasks;
Use relevant tools, equipment and material to perform biodiversity monitoring-related activities with the purpose of enhancing environmental conditions.

Occupational Tasks:

Biodiversity monitoring,
Control of invasive alien species,
Contribute to the protection of wildlife,
Assist in data collection for field surveys on biodiversity, habitat and natural resources status,
Map areas and species needing special attention using GIS software,
Monitor natural resources and catchment areas, and
Perform self-protection and health and safety-related tasks within a biodiversity monitoring context.

Entry Requirements:

NQF Level 3 with Maths or Mathematical Literacy.
Or a minimum of 2 years of experience in the wildlife conservation sector.

Learning Structure

This skills programme comprises Knowledge Modules (60% or 36 credits) that cover the theory you need to know to work as an Eco-Ranger. It also has Practical or Application Modules (40% or 24 credits) where you are required to gain practical experience in a formal nature reserve or protected area. This practical component is well supported with materials and tools to help you record your experience and apply the theory that you have learnt. As mentioned above, each credit requires 10 hours to achieve and so the breakdown of theory and practical components is given below:

Knowledge Modules (Theory)
Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4	Week 5	Week 6	Week 7	Week 8	Week 9

Practical / Application Modules
Week 10	Week 11	Week 12	Week 13	Week 14	Week 15

Note that each training provider will have their own unique learning schedule and may alternate Knowledge and Practical Modules that would be detailed in their learning programme.

The theoretical component will not necessarily be 9 full weeks of classroom time, as the hours of learning will also include your time spent reading, researching and learning, and working on your formative assessment activities. Usually, a training provider will allocate about 30% of the 9 weeks to in-class learning. This means that you will spend approximately 14 days of online learning spread out over 9 weeks according to your training provider’s chosen structure.

Notional Hours of Learning

Theory/Contact time	100 hours required for formal learning
Workplace/Practical	70 hours required for workplace practice and transfer of learning
Assessment	430 hours required to work on assignments and all other formative and summative assessments
Total Notional Hours	600 = 60 Credits

You will be provided with a range of learning support materials that include:

Learner Guide – This textbook contains the theory content and is structured around 8 Knowledge Modules. The learner guide also contains instructions for learning activities. It refers to tasks and activities (both group and individual) that you must complete in your learner workbook (Portfolio of Evidence).

Learner Workbook – This portfolio of evidence goes towards your Formative Assessment of this course. Formative Assessment is the ongoing assessment that aims to test whether you are ready for your final summative assessment and is best seen as part of your learning journey. It allows both you and your course Tutor to see that you are keeping up with the theory and understanding the content and thus allows the Tutor to adapt or respond to your individual learning needs as the course progresses.

Summative Assessment – This is conducted once you have completed your theoretical and practical modules and uses various methods to assess your competence, such as knowledge tests, direct observation and assignments. Based on your results, these summative assessments are assessed by a registered Assessor who will then declare you either competent or not yet competent. If you are not yet competent, the Assessor will provide feedback on which areas you need to work on further to achieve competence. You will undergo an External Summative Assessment conducted by a third party (this is conducted by the Assessment Quality Partner for this skills programme and not your training provider) as a final step in achieving your certificate for this skills programme.

Occupational Learning

This Skills Programme is an occupational qualification. According to the Quality Council on Trades and Occupations (QCTO), an occupational qualification is a qualification that consists of a minimum of 25 Credits associated with a trade, occupation or profession. It results from work-based learning, consists of three components (knowledge, practical skills and work experience) and has an external summative assessment. This means that when you complete the qualification with your training provider, you will undergo an assessment conducted by a third party before you will be assessed as competent and achieve your certificate.

Work-based learning means that your learning is intricately linked to a workplace. Thus the Application Modules (often called Practical Modules) will occur in a formal structured work environment. You will be required to show evidence that you are able to apply your knowledge (or theory) gained during the learning on the Knowledge Modules in a real work environment.

In the case of this Eco-Ranger Skills Programme, this means you will need to work (or volunteer if you are unemployed) in a formal nature reserve or protected area. You could also work in a conservation-related programme on private or public land where the focus is on natural resource management or the protection of natural resources, even if it is not in a formally protected area.

Knowledge Modules

The 8 knowledge modules that make up this skills programme are outlined below.

ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES & ECOSYSTEMS RESILIENCE (NQF Level 3 – 3 credits)

The purpose of this module is to provide a learner with an opportunity to apply knowledge of ecological principles in relation to the conservation of biological diversity. On completion, the learners will understand:

Ecology, conservation biology, its evolution and principles: 30%
Ecosystems: 30%
Ecosystems resilience: 30%
Climate change, ecology and ecosystems: 10%

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION (NQF Level 4 – 3 credits)

The purpose of this module is to provide a learner with an opportunity to apply knowledge of African wildlife with the purpose of identifying and understanding their behaviour. On completion, the learners will understand:

African wildlife: 20%
Characteristics, behaviour and role of specific African wildlife in biodiversity conservation: 20%
Human & wildlife interactions: 10%
Animal tracking, trapping and movements: 20%
RED Data animal species: 20%

NATURE CONSERVATION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT (NQF Level 4 – 3 credits)

The focus of the learning in this module is on providing the learner with an opportunity to demonstrate an understanding of nature conservation laws and enforcement. The learning will enable learners to apply knowledge of conservation legislation, regulation, provincial ordinances and by-laws for the purpose of biodiversity conservation law enforcement. On completion, the learners will understand:

Legislation: 20%
Regulations: 20%
Provincial ordinances: 20%
By-laws: 20%
Enforcement procedures: 20%

SELF-PROTECTION AND SURVIVAL MEASURES (NQF Level 4 – 3 credits)

This module focuses on providing learners with an opportunity to demonstrate an understanding of self-protection and survival techniques during emergencies within a wildlife context. On completion, the learners will understand:

Signs of an emergency situation: 10%
Situations under which emergencies can occur: 20%
Procedures to follow during emergencies: 40%
Survival techniques: 30%

BIODIVERSITY MONITORING (NQF Level 4 – 8 credits)

This module focuses on allowing learners to demonstrate an understanding of biodiversity monitoring within an environmental conservation context. On completion, the learners will understand:

Biodiversity monitoring importance and principles: 20%
Biodiversity assessments: 30%
Biodiversity monitoring actions: 20%
Invasive alien species, their characteristics, negative impacts and control measures: 30%

CATCHMENT AREAS AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (NQF Level 4 – 5 credits)

This module focuses on providing learners an opportunity to demonstrate an understanding of catchment systems and natural resources in relation to their role in biodiversity conservation. On completion, the learners will understand:

Role of catchment systems in biodiversity conservation: 20%
Assessment of catchment systems: 20%
Catchment systems improvements: 20%
Importance of natural resources in biodiversity conservation: 20%
Rehabilitation and restoration of natural resources: 20%

NAVIGATION AND COMMUNICATIONS (NQF Level 4 – 5 credits)

This module focuses on allowing learners to demonstrate an understanding of navigation systems and two-way radio communications within the wildlife conservation context. On completion, the learners will understand:

Identify and explain navigation systems & applications applicable in conservation: 30%
Explain geographical information system and its uses in conservation: 30%
Explain ways of using maps and global positioning systems for locating species, habitats, and natural resources and navigating directions within conservation: 30%
Identify and explain two-way radio communication systems, their components, uses and functions: 10%

ECOTOURISM AND BIODIVERSITY (NQF Level 4 – 6 credits)

This module focuses on providing learners with an opportunity to demonstrate an understanding of eco-tourism as a way towards improving biodiversity within a South African context. On completion, the learners will understand:

Consumptive and non-consumptive forms of tourism: 30%
Role of non-consumptive form of tourism to biodiversity conservation: 20%
Components of eco-tourism within the safari industry: 20%
Eco-tourism business concepts and principles: 30%

Application (Practical) Modules

These take place in a formal and structured work environment in a protected area, nature reserve or suitable agricultural or rural land.

WILDLIFE PATROLS (NQF Level 4 – 5 credits)

This module focuses on providing a learner with an opportunity to practice and understand tools and equipment for conducting different types of wildlife patrols in an operational area. Application activities should take place in a real work environment. The learner will be required to:

Use tools and equipment for conducting different types of wildlife patrols in an operational area.
Adhere to wildlife patrol procedures while conducting patrols.

INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES CONTROL (NQF Level 4 – 2 credits)

This module focuses on providing a learner with an opportunity to practice and understand tools, equipment and methods to implement an approved alien species control program in a specific area. Application activities should take place in a real work environment. The learner will be required to:

Derive activities from an approved invasive species control program.
Select, plan and prepare appropriate tools, equipment and materials for controlling invasive alien species.
Adhere to IAS (invasive alien species) control procedures.

CONSERVATION DATA COLLECTION (NQF Level 4 – 3 credits)

Given an approved data collection program, the learner must be able to:

Identify and collect appropriate data on the state of biodiversity, species habitat and natural resources in a given area.
Select, plan and prepare appropriate tools, materials and equipment for data collection.
Submit data to responsible supervisors in a specific area.

GIS AND TWO-WAY RADIO COMMUNICATION (NQF Level 4 – 18 credits)

The focus of this application module is to provide learners with an opportunity to operate applicable GIS software, GPS and two-way radio communication equipment to track and locate species, habitats and natural resources. This application module should take place in a simulated or real work environment. Given a GIS software manual and two radio communication systems manuals, the learner must be able to: