Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency covers the process of developing, implementing and evaluating a rehabilitation strategy for a natural area in a coastal zone. It requires the ability to inspect and assess the condition of the coastal area, assess threats to the stability of the environment, plan for rehabilitation and/or maintenance of the area and natural resources within the area, implement, monitor and review the rehabilitation program. The unit includes the development of strategies. Developing a strategy to rehabilitate a coastal area requires knowledge of ecological principles, coastal zone habitats, landforms and processes, identification of flora and fauna, biodiversity, identification of pest species, identification of environmental degradation processes and threats, coastal habitat restoration techniques, pest control techniques and monitoring techniques.

Application of the unit 

This unit is suitable for persons working in enterprises, organizations or groups who are responsible for the management of natural resources within the coastal zone.

Prerequisite units 

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. Identify and describe coastal resource/assets

1.1. Identify existing sources of information including advice from the relevant land manager, organization or group on the coastal zone resource/assets in the area to be managed.

1.2. Conduct site survey to determine physical/biological entities and processes including threatening processes.

1.3. Identify cultural and heritage sites within the resource zone and arrange for an archaeological assessment if required.

1.4. Identify OH&S risks and hazards that may impact on management operations at the site.

1.5. Identify resource use and management stakeholders for the area and the requirements and opportunities for consultation.

2. Establish condition of coastal area

2.1. Evaluate current condition of resources and or assets within the area.

2.2. Assess threatening processes in terms of the level of impact on the resources/assets within the area.

2.3. Present preliminary findings on the coastal resource and its condition to the appropriate audience.

3. Establish a strategy to rehabilitate the coastal area

3.1. Analyse information gathered to facilitate decisions on management options.

3.2. Present findings to management authority and seek direction on drafting management actions.

3.3. Implement processes for consultation with management, enterprise staff, consultants and stakeholders where required in accordance with enterprise policies and procedures.

3.4. Establish and prioritise strategy for asset rehabilitation and improvement.

3.5. Design management action plan for implementation of the strategy.

3.6. Document acceptance of the action plan by management and other stakeholders according to organisational policies and procedures.

3.7. Formal consent gained from relevant land manager/authority as required.

4. Implement and monitor the strategy and action plan

4.1. Seek funds/volunteer assistance to undertake actions in accordance with organisational plans and procedures, OH&S and legislative requirements.

4.2. Co-ordinate activities with other relevant organizations, community groups, individuals or stakeholders.

4.3. Monitor progress of works in accordance with strategy plans, organisational policies and procedures.

4.4. Review strategies and actions with recommendations for change processed in accordance with organisational policies and procedures.

5. Evaluate rehabilitation strategy

5.1. Evaluate changes in resource condition and effectiveness of strategy.

5.2. Report findings to management and stakeholders with recommendations for adjustments to strategy.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• undertake site research
• assess condition of resources
• identify and recommend rehabilitation strategies
• evaluate and monitor rehabilitation strategy
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification, negotiating solutions and responding to a range of views
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record complex workplace measures
• use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• coastal zone geomorphology and processes
• ecological principles and environmental assessment techniques
• native flora and fauna identification, habitat requirements, vulnerable and endangered species
• techniques and strategies for use in the management, rehabilitation of natural communities and species within the coastal zone
• environmental degradation processes
• management of cultural and heritage sites
• natural resource management planning and issues
• pest plant and animal management
• relevant legislative and regulatory requirements
• preparing reports.

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 

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

The critical requirements that are valuable for this unit of competency as a whole are listed below.

Assessment must confirm one's ability to:

• assess the condition of a natural area within a coastal zone and identify threats
• determine management options to facilitate the development of a strategy and action plan
• monitor and evaluate the implementation of the strategy.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

For valid and reliable assessment of this unit, competency should be consistently demonstrated over a period of time and observed by the assessor.

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.

Sources of information may include:

• existing local, regional, state or national management plans or strategies impacting on the resource, previous surveys, maps and studies on or relating to the site.

Resource/assets may be:

• a natural resource or physical asset within the area e.g.

• a natural resource such as a fishery
• natural communities of significant ecological value
• site specific where there may be several resources/assets and may include a statement of significance for each resource/asset.

Cultural and heritage sites may include:

• archaeological remains of aboriginal occupation and cultural sites
• remains of early European settlement and other historic values
• shipwrecks
• recreational values
• landscape values
• scientific sites of significance.

Threats and disturbances that may affect a coastal zone include:

• coastal development
• degradation and destabilisation of habitats
• pollution and degradation of coastal water quality
• terrestrial and/or marine pest impact on ecosystems
• erosion and sedimentation
• overfishing
• recreational pressures
• major event
• poaching
• marine industries/fisheries and aquaculture.

Strategies may include:

• protecting or rehabilitating dunes
• estuaries and wetlands and other coastal and marine habitats
• removing threats
• monitoring beach conditions
• flora and fauna
• removing inappropriate structures
• regulate recreational and commercial activities
• controlling pedestrian or vehicular traffic
• education and training activities that raise community awareness of coastal and marine conservation issues
• temporary control measures may be included
• strategies to include monitoring criteria.

Unit sector 

Natural resource management

Co-requisite units 

Competency field