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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Demonstrate an understanding of indigenous plant management 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
253962  Demonstrate an understanding of indigenous plant management 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Nature Conservation 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation Nature Conservation 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  15 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard is aimed at individuals involved in the management of indigenous plants within nature conservation and other natural environments. Learners qualifying against this unit standard will be able to interpret the plant environment, the use of indigenous plants and to assist in managing the flora within a protected area.

The qualifying learner will be able to:
  • Explain the associations between the flora and fauna within the protected area.
  • Explain the impact of management actions on the flora of the protected area.
  • Harvest plants according to management guidelines.
  • Propagate and re-introduce indigenous plants.
  • Apply basic plant monitoring techniques. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that the learner is competent in:
  • Communication Literacy NQF Level 4.
  • Mathematical Literacy NQF Level 4.
  • It is recommended that learners embarking on this unit standard have either a background in Biology or have completed the NQF Level 5 Unit standards pertaining to water provision, problem plant control, animal management and veld burning operations. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Explain the associations between the flora and fauna within the protected area. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The most important plant and animal associations within the protected area is identified and listed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The fluctuations of the plant-animal associations in the operational environment is identified and listed. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Cause and effect situations; utilisation regimes; community soil aspect interactions; grass-tree interactions, trophic pyramid.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Explain the impact of management actions on the flora and fauna of the protected area. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The impact of the provision of water from artificial sources on the environment is identified and explained as it relates to fauna and flora within the protected area. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The impact of veld burn programmes on the fauna and flora is identified and explained as it applies to the protected area. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The overall impact of removal and introduction programmes on the protected area is explained through the drafting of a report. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Removal can be culling, hunting, live capture.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Harvest plants according to management guidelines. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The appropriate techniques are applied to harvest plants in line with management guidelines. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The correct species and plant parts are harvested in the correct numbers, in line with management guidelines. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Appropriate economic values are ascribed to plants that are harvested (or otherwise utilised) according to the relevant factors that determine economic value. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Factors include demand for the plant, the plant's abundance, the ease and length of time the plant takes to propagate.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Records of data are collected according to operational requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Data sheets; permits issued.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Propagate and re-introduce indigenous plants. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    A variety of appropriate techniques are employed to propagate various indigenous species that are utilised locally. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION NOTES 
    Assessors are urged to be reasonable in their expectations of learners in respect of this assessment criterion. The emphasis here is on the expression "that are utilised locally". 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Propagated plants are successfully translocated into prescribed areas in the wild with due consideration for genetic integrity and potential negating animal impacts. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Browsable palatable species.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Apply basic plant monitoring techniques. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    An outline of basic monitoring principles is provided. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Data reliability, data accuracy; monitoring objectives of the local protected area.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    An outline is provided of basic practical plant monitoring techniques. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Applicable cost effective methods used in local area and where absent to use both fixed and random methods - some methods could include photographic, wheel point, foot point; line transects; quadrant methods.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Appropriate techniques for local objectives are applied, under supervision, to monitor plants within the protected area. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing an individual against this unit standard must meet the assessor requirements of the relevant ETQA. In particular, such assessors must demonstrate that they assess in terms of the scope and context defined in all the range statements. Any institution offering learning towards this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA. External moderation of assessment will be conducted by the relevant ETQA at its discretion according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • Plant structures, plant associations, survival strategies and plant modifications.
  • Supervision of harvesting of local plants according to plant harvesting techniques and set quotas.
  • Map reading and interpretation/mapping.
  • Wet and dry cycles (climate).
  • Local medicinal and cultural uses of plants.
  • Propagation and re-introduction of local plants.
  • Nutrients (micro/macro elements).
  • Basic concepts of veld types and management units at a landscape level.
  • Plant succession.
  • Influence of soils on plant communities.
  • Basic plant monitoring techniques. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Self-organisation and management:
  • Field rangers engaged in plant management must of necessity plan and work methodically and systematically and this supports self-organisation and management in the operational environment. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Information evaluation:
  • The identification of indigenous plant species and their utilisation supports the gathering, and evaluation of information in the operational environment. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use of science and technology:
  • Knowledge and application of techniques for identifying indigenous plant species require the use of science and technology in the operational environment. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Inter-relatedness of systems:
  • Knowledge of the association between plants and animals promotes ecological awareness and supports the understanding of the world as a set of inter-related systems. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Responsible citizenship:
  • The need to comply with environmental legislation enhances responsible citizenship in the operational environment. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Demonstration of the knowledge and skills outlined in this unit standard must be consistent with the principles of:
  • Maintaining essential ecological processes and life-support systems.
  • Maintaining genetic, species and ecosystem diversity.
  • Considering ecological and social rights and responsibilities, whilst ensuring sustainable utilization of species and ecosystems, thereby yielding the greatest sustainable and equitable benefit to present generations whilst maintaining the potential to meet the needs and aspirations of future generations.
  • This unit standard must be the fundamental link with plant identification, water provision, problem plant control, animal management, and veld burning unit standards. The fluctuations and associations will be difficult for learners without the background. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  59949   National Certificate: Natural Resource Management: Terrestrial  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  CATHSSETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.