RG 9 week - Certificate

Resource Guardianship – 9week Certificate

I can’t believe the RG is over and all our work is done!!  We have grown so much during the past 9 weeks and we are seeing nature in a whole different way than before.

This is some Unit Standards that we have covered in RG:

1.         Harvesting of fauna (252455)
2.         Harvesting of flora (252458)
3.         Collect field specimens and environmental data (252451)
4.         Combat problem plants (252453)
5.         Combat soil erosion (252457)
6.         Conservation Ethics (8336)
7.         Conservation in Society (252468)
8.         Identify and Monitor local wildlife (252462)
9.         Implement cultural heritage resources management (252460)
10.       Orientate and Navigate (252456)
11.       Perform Conservation Guardianship (252452)
12.       Non-dangerous damage causing animals (252459)
13.       Fences (252454)
14.       Fire (252461)

Harvesting of fauna (252455)

The most interesting thing about this U/S for me was the different game captures.  The first one is Active Game Capturing. Where a boma is put up in a V-shape with a few sections.  A helicopter flies above and chases the animals into the boma and when all the animals is in the helicopter signals the people on the ground to close the different sections.  The animals then gets chased onto the loading truck.  A Passive Game Capture is where you use food to lure the animals into the boma and the people closes the curtains when all the animals has passed and then they are chased onto the truck. This boma is usually left like this for a few days so the animals can get used to it.  Then there’s the Chemical Game Capture where the animal is darted and sedated and loaded onto the truck. A vet must be present with this capture.

Harvesting of flora (252458)

There is a few things we learned with the harvesting of flora.  We had to pick up hay barrels on the ‘Blou Buffel Lande’.  This is part of a sustainable system Sondela has.  We harvest the Foxtail Buffalo grass and put them into barrels and use them for food for the cattle in the winter months.  It also poses as a fire hazard since it is a very good fuel for fire.  We also had to clean the donkey camp, cutting down trees and branches.  This gives the old plants a chance to grow more healthily and it gives new plants to come up and renew the area. OHS is also important in this U/S because of the equipment we use like the brush cutters we need a mask, gloves, shin guards etc…

Collect field specimens and environmental data (252451)

This was a fun and interesting U/S in RG.  We went into the bush and collected different specimens like the golden orb spider and melkbos.  We had to write it down on our own data collection sheets. We learned different ways of collecting specimens f.e. the line method, mole traps and mist netting.  After collecting the specimens we learned how to preserve plants in the plant press.  When collecting these specimens we always have to remember that we can’t disturb the animals or environment around us and we have to use ethical collecting practises.

Combat problem plants (252453)

There are a few problem plants on Sondela.  Sweetbos, Sicklebush, Silver Cluster Leaf and Inbessie only to name a few.  I had the chance to use a chemical control method to combat the inkbessie by dabbing it with round-up.  But first we had to use the mechanical method to cut them off before applying the chemical on the stem.  We learned about the 3 categories of problem plants. Category 1 is weeds that must be destroyed f.e. Lantana camara. Category 2 plants may be grown with a permit like the Eucalyptus tree.  Category 3 may be grown but not within 30 meters of water f.e. Jacaranda mimosifolia.  We learned about pioneer plants and how they help an area to go into ecological succession.

Combat soil erosion (252457)

There are 3 types of soil erosion. Sheet, rill and gully.  There’sa few methods of controlling soil erosion.  Reducing grazing pressure, control the run-off, use gabions (wire baskets) and covering barren siol.  We have a few conservation projects on Sondela where we used dead plant material to cover the soil and to control the run-off. This dead plant material goes back into the ground and leads to new plants coming up.  The areas has improved a lot and pioneer plants are starting to grow like the sweetbos on the ‘Springbok vlaktes’.

 

Conservation Ethics (8336)

This unit standard is a lot about doing to others as you would want to be done onto yourself and about the different cultural perspectives.  Like the Rhino poachers.  The poachers kill them for their tusks and the conservationists try to stop them because it is not ethical. Their perspectives differ in what is right and wrong.  We have to understand the interaction between man and the environment and the impact we have on it. The only way we can do this is by acting responsibly and use our resources properly and with care.

Nature Conservation i.t.o its role & function (252468)

First we have to know what nature conservation is.  Nature conservancy protects the Earth’s natural resources and beauty.  It is the ethic of using, allocating and protecting our resources and beauty for future generations.  There is different organizations that fight for this purpose.  NGO (Non-governmental Organization) operates independently and isn’t subsidized by the government at all.  IUCN’s (International Union of Conservation of Nature) function is to find solutions to our most pressing challenges.  TRAFFIC (The Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network) makes sure that the trade of wild plants and animals don’t pose a threat to nature conservation. WWF·SA’s ( World Wildlife Fund, South Africa) aim is to save endangered species and to reduce our impact on the environment and to conserve the beauty of the world.  CITES ( Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) ensures that the trade doesn’t threaten their survival.

 

Identify and monitoring local wildlife (252462)

We learned how to differentiate between male and females of different animals.  F.e.  the impala males have horns where the females don’t.  The zebra females’ stripes are thicker around her back than the males’ stripes.  It is important to be able to identify and monitor wildlife because we have to know what animals we have and the balance between males and females for mating purposes.  Monitoring can also be important to know how many animals there are on a certain space of land, so that there isn’t overgrazing which causes soil erosion.  It is also important to write a report about the monitoring of wildlife including what the weather conditions were and the amount of animals we found of each species.  We sat on the cruiser and counted the animals.  The people on the left counted the animals on the left and the people on the right counted the animals on the right.  We had to write down what we found for record purposes.

Implement cultural heritage resources management (252460)

There is a strong connection between cultural heritage and nature conservation because they can be destroyed by humans.  Both is very important for our future generations and needs to be protected.  Cultural heritage can deteriorate when the site is badly managed and because of the weather that can damage buildings and artifacts and it can cause soil erosion.  But the most important factor is when the importance of the place disappears and people don’t care about their heritage anymore. 

 

Orientate and navigate (252456)

Maps are very important because it can help give you directions and plot certain areas you have worked in. You have to be able to read and interpret maps to be able to do that.  You also have to be able to draw up simple maps with a suitable scale and a key/ legend with symbols defining certain things plotted on the map.  You have to use the right language when communication directions using the phrases “left/right”, “up/down” etc.  You have to be able to select appropriate routes and also have an alternative route available for when the first one doesn’t work out.

Perform conservation guardianship (252452)

This is the unit standard we learned about anti-poaching and the right procedures to follow when you find poachers on your reserve.  Conducting patrols are very important in detecting illegal activities and identifying/finding evidence.  There is an appropriate way of reacting when you find a suspect.  Disarming him/her and following the lawful arresting and questioning procedures.  Collecting evidence is also important as it is used in court against the suspect.  There is a variety of techniques you can used to communicate.  There is also a verbal debrief that needs to be conducted.

 

Non-dangerous damage causing animals (252459)

There is 3 non-dangerous damage causing animals on Sondela f.e. flies, ticks and warthogs.  We learned about their habits and what they do to cause damage on a reserve.  A warthog damages fences when they try to get through to the other side. That’s why we build warthog highways (this is a steel frame with small chains hanging down to the ground) in the fences.  The ticks makes animals sick when they find their hosts, we put down lick blocks (salt licks/ molasses) to lure the animals to the water where we have pressure plates, dip applicators and Duncan applicators. These applicators spray or dip the animals with amiphor to kill the ticks.  We also have to be able to identify the spoor of different animals so that we can determine which animal it is and what measure to take to minimize the damage they can cause. 

Erect, monitor and maintain wildlife fences (252454)

We learned different erection skills and that the prep for fencing is very important.  The ground must be level and the area must be de-bushed.  Before fencing you have to make sure you have all the equipment ready. When you dismantle a fence you have to be very careful when taking the wires off.  When you are done with the dismantling you have to check all the equipment to see if it can be re-used again.  Fence patrols are very important and needs to be done once a week.  Broken strands should be repaired or replaced immediately.  You have to fill holes underneath fences with rocks so that animals can’t climb through. Tracks and signs of animals moving through fences must be reported.  Two animals that usually cause damage on fences are kudu’s and warthogs.  With kudu’s you can put more horizontal wires on the fences so that he can’t see an opening to get through.  For the warthogs we build the warthog highways in the fences to let them go through the fence easily without breaking the fence.

Ignite, control and extinguish fires (252461)

There is different factors that influence fire. The slope is important to know how the fire will react.  Fire always burns uphill quickly so when you fight a fire on a slope you always fight from the bottom.  The wind is also a very important factor.  It will determine in which direction the fire will go. The speed of the wind will predict how fast the fire will spread.  We always have to fight a fire with the wind.  There are also different times a day that you burn depending on what type fire you want.  If you want a hot fire you should burn midday.  If you want a cold fire early morning or early afternoon will be time to burn. By law we have to have fire breaks to prevent fires from jumping to different areas or neighbouring farms.

What we learned in RG really opened my eyes and taught me a lot about nature and everything that can have an impact on it.  All these lessons made my life richer and I will never forget them. 

Next up, SPECIES CARE!!!!!!