Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit describes the outcomes required to manage coppice stem development in the regeneration of broadleaf forests by allowing coppice stems to grow from ground level stumps (stools). The unit includes thinning to promote growth of stronger stems and to achieve a higher yield rate

General workplace legislative and regulatory requirements apply to this unit; however there are no specific licensing or certification requirements at the time of publication

This unit replaces FPIFGM3211A Manage coppice stems

Application of the unit 

The unit involves managing coppice stems in a forest environment setting

The skills and knowledge required for competent workplace performance are to be used within the scope of the person's job and authority

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Prepare for coppice management

1.1. Applicable occupational health and safety  (OHS), environmental , legislative  and organisational requirements  relevant to managing coppice stems are identified and followed

1.2. Work order  is reviewed and checked with appropriate personnel 

1.3. Type and quantity of stumps  to grow coppice  are identified and assessed for safe working conditions

1.4. Equipment  appropriate to work requirements is selected and checked for operational effectiveness in line with manufacturer recommendations

1.5. Coppice activities are planned in line with site procedures and environmental requirements

1.6. Communication  with others is established and maintained in line with OHS requirements

2. Develop coppice stems

2.1. Environmental conditions  are assessed and used to plan the coppice development of each tree stump

2.2. Chainsaw operators are directed to cut tree stumps at ground level to form stools 

2.3. Stools are cleared of debris  and allowed to rest and sprout coppice

2.4. Debris is recycled in line with site procedures and environmental requirements

2.5. Coupe is protected from wildlife and grazing animals during coppice development

2.6. Standard seedlings  are removed or left in line with the coppice management plan  used

2.7. Stools are regularly assessed to measure and gauge the amount of coppice growth

3. Undertake thinning

3.1. Coppice stems are assessed in line with the coppice management plan to identify stronger stems and how many stems to leave

3.2. Weaker or smaller coppice stems are removed by hand or mechanically

3.3. Thinning  is regularly undertaken to control regrowth and promote the growth of retained coppice stems

3.4. Thinning of more mature coppice forests is directed to prepare for harvesting  activities

3.5. Thinned material is recycled in line with site procedures and environmental requirements

3.6. Coppice management process is recorded and reported  to the appropriate personnel

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Required skills 

• Technical skills sufficient to use and maintain relevant tools, machinery and equipment; efficiently and safely manage coppice stems
• Communication skills sufficient to use appropriate communication and interpersonal techniques with colleagues and others
• Literacy skills sufficient to record and report workplace information; maintain documentation
• Numeracy skills sufficient to measure, estimate and calculate time required to complete a task
• Problem solving skills sufficient to identify problems and equipment faults; demonstrate appropriate response procedures

Required knowledge 

• Applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice and established safe practices relevant to the full range of processes for managing coppice stems
• Environmental protection requirements, including the safe disposal of waste material
• Organisational and site standards, requirements, policies and procedures for managing coppice stems
• Environmental risks and hazards
• Procedures for minimising environmental impact
• Characteristics of trees and timber defects
• Coppice stem development
• Regeneration methods
• Established communication channels and protocols
• Problem identification and resolution strategies, and common fault finding techniques
• Types of tools and equipment, and procedures for their safe use and maintenance
• Appropriate mathematical procedures for estimating and measuring, including calculating time to complete tasks
• Procedures for recording and reporting workplace information

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence that they can safely and efficiently manage coppice stems in line with organisational requirements

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to, and satisfy, all of the requirements of the elements of this unit and include demonstration of:

• following applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislative and regulatory requirements and codes of practice relevant to managing coppice stems
• following organisational policies and procedures relevant to managing coppice stems
• managing coppice stems to promote forest regeneration and bring about high volume yields
• conducting thinning operations of coppice stems

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

• Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or realistically simulated workplace
• Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints
• Assessment of required knowledge, other than confirmatory questions, will usually be conducted in an off-site context
• Assessment is to follow relevant regulatory or Australian Standards requirements
• The following resources should be made available:

• workplace location or simulated workplace
• materials and equipment relevant to undertaking work applicable to this unit
• specifications and work instructions

Method of assessment 

• Assessment must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the FPI11 Training Package
• Assessment methods must confirm consistency and accuracy of performance (over time and in a range of workplace relevant contexts) together with application of required knowledge
• Assessment must be by direct observation of tasks, with questioning on required knowledge and it must also reinforce the integration of employability skills
• Assessment methods must confirm the ability to access and correctly interpret and apply the required knowledge
• Assessment may be applied under project-related conditions (real or simulated) and require evidence of process
• Assessment must confirm a reasonable inference that competency is able not only to be satisfied under the particular circumstance, but is able to be transferred to other circumstances
• Assessment may be in conjunction with assessment of other units of competency
• The assessment environment should not disadvantage the candidate
• Assessment practices should take into account any relevant language or cultural issues related to Aboriginality, gender or language backgrounds other than English
• Where the participant has a disability, reasonable adjustment may be applied during assessment
• Language and literacy demands of the assessment task should not be higher than those of the work role

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

OHS requirements :

are to be in line with applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislation and regulations, and organisational safety policies and procedures, and may include:

• personal protective equipment and clothing
• safety equipment
• first aid equipment
• fire fighting equipment
• hazard and risk control
• fatigue management
• elimination of hazardous materials and substances
• safe forest practices, including required actions relating to forest fire
• manual handling including shifting, lifting and carrying

Environmental requirements  may include:

• legislation
• organisational policies and procedures
• workplace practices

Legislative requirements :

are to be in line with applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislation, regulations, certification requirements and codes of practice and may include:

• award and enterprise agreements
• industrial relations
• Australian Standards
• confidentiality and privacy
• OHS
• the environment
• equal opportunity
• anti-discrimination
• relevant industry codes of practice
• duty of care

Organisational requirements  may include:

• legal
• organisational and site guidelines
• policies and procedures relating to own role and responsibility
• quality assurance
• procedural manuals
• quality and continuous improvement processes and standards
• OHS, emergency and evacuation procedures
• ethical standards
• recording and reporting requirements
• equipment use, maintenance and storage requirements
• environmental management requirements (waste minimisation and disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines)

Work order  is to include:

• instructions for coppice stem management for the work site and may include:

• type
• size
• length
• quantity and grade

and may also include:

• instructions for the environmental monitoring of work and procedures
• environmental care requirements relevant to the work

Appropriate personnel  may include:

• supervisors
• suppliers
• clients
• colleagues
• managers

Stumps 

are the remaining stumps after felling has occurred in harvesting operations; stump height varies between half a metre and two metres

Coppice :

• is the new growth that shoots from a stump or stool after harvesting has occurred
• is used as an alternative to seeding or seedling propagation to provide short rotation for pulpwood of existing species
• forests are renowned for providing a fast return to a flora and fauna friendly biodiversity

Equipment  may include:

• thinning equipment

Communication  may include:

• verbal and non-verbal language
• constructive feedback
• active listening
• questioning to clarify and confirm understanding
• use of positive, confident and cooperative language
• use of language and concepts appropriate to individual social and cultural differences
• control of tone of voice

Environmental conditions  may include:

• ground growth
• ground slope
• gullies
• water courses
• seed trees
• habitat trees
• ground hazards and obstacles

Stools 

are stumps after they have been cut down to height equivalent or as close as is practical to ground level

Debris  is to include:

• forest waste
• branches
• bracken or rubbish

Standard seedlings  are to include:

• new growth that sprouts as a result of natural seeding or planted seedlings

Coppice management plan  may include:

• coppice plans that only manage coppice growth
• coppice and standard plans, which include regulated growth of standard seedlings to complement the coppice growth

Thinning 

is the process of removing weak, small or surplus coppice stems to promote the growth of the remaining stems

Harvesting 

is the method of cutting and extracting trees and timber from designated areas

Records and reports  may include:

• tree type
• size
• height
• diameter
• inspection information
• grading and labelling outcomes
• storage locations
• quality outcomes
• hazards
• incidents
• equipment malfunctions

and may be:

• manual
• a computer-based system
• other appropriate organisational communication system

Competency field 

Forest Growing and Management