Now is the time to study Environmental Restoration

The restoration of ecological communities and land forms is an integral component of managing natural resources. Throughout the world, we are now seeing meaningful progress in “fixing the environment”, which means that there is now a great need for trained professionals in associated fields.

The field of Environmental Restoration:
•    Creates jobs that “fix” rather than “destroy” the environment.
•    Provides “quality of life” jobs.
•    Provides job security with opportunities for local, on-ground jobs.

Learn to Restore and Protect Degraded Environments

At least 25% of earth's land is estimated to be affected by land degradation (of one form or another) and this affects the lives of more than a billion people, spread across many countries. On top of this, the oceans and air are increasingly affected by environmental decline.

The loss of species due to land degradation is also huge - more than 20,000 species are lost each year.  The world population is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, with the increase concentrated mainly in developing countries - and with increased urbanisation within these countries.

All of this sounds like a very bleak scenario; and yet mankind continues to thrive. Sooner or later though; the sins of the past will catch up with everyone; and if we don't restore our environment, we will not continue to thrive as a species.


WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

• The nature and scope of ecology
• How to assess damaged or undamaged sites
• How to conserve and manage the environment
• Choose 3 elective units that will suit you 

• Those who want to work in environmental restoration (e.g. forests, farms, mines, damage from floods and fires.
• Those who want to be environmental assessors.
• Those who want to take the first step towards a longer study program.
• Those working in the industry who want to extend their knowledge and skills through a more formal study program

Modules

Note that each module in the Certificate in Environmental Restoration is a short course in its own right, and may be studied separately.

What's covered in the CORE MODULES

Module 1:  ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

There are 6 lessons in this course:

1. Living Things
   • Classification of plants and animals
   • identifying living organisms
   • using identification keys
2. Basic Ecology
   • Populations
   • communities
   • ecosystems
   • constituents of ecosystem
   • the ecosphere
   • the web of life
   • habitats and niches
   • humans in the environment.
3. Global Environmental Systems
   • The Earth’s structure
   • the atmosphere
   • climatic systems
   • Gaia theory
   • the carbon dioxide cycle
   • El Nino.
4. Environmental Problems
   • Deforestation
   • loss of agricultural land
   • loss of biological diversity
   • loss of water
   • loss of non renewable resources
   • environmental weeds
   • the Greenhouse Effect
   • Ozone depletion
   • ozone as a Greenhouse gas
5. Conservation
   • The definition and goals of conservation
   • the history of conservation
   • natural resources (renewable and non renewable).
6. Acting Locally: Thinking Globally
   • Humans and water
   • how to minimize water usage
   • energy use in the home
   • reducing household waste
   • domestic transport and its affect on pollution
   • building materials and their environmental impact.

Module 2:  CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Conservation is the wise use of resources of the earth, in order that they will be able to support or sustain, the generations that are yet to come. This can be done in many ways and in different situations. For example:

• National Parks - The protection of the ecosystems, including endangered species of flora and fauna.
• Agriculture - Permaculture techniques such as the management of soil erosion and water catchment areas.
• Industry - Pollution control measures should be used.
• People - Every person should help to collect and recycle waste.

These examples show that conservation involves the use of resources so that the environment is protected and maintained, and that the ecosystems are rehabilitated and restored.  There are 8 lessons in this course:

1. An Introduction To Ecology
2. A Perspective On Environmental Problems
3. Pollution & Industry Effects On The Environment
4. Water & Soil
5. Vegetation Conservation & Management
6. Animal Conservation & Management
7. Marine Conservation & Management
8. The Future

Module 3:  ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

There are 8 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction to Environmental Assessment
   • Types of Employment for Environmental Scientists, Pre purchase inspections, background data, Flora and Fauna Surveys, Open Space Management Plans, Detection of Pollutants, Use of Plants, Remediation of Polluted Sites, Employment in a Multi-Disciplinary Team.
2. Overview of Environmental Assessment
   • What is Environmental Assessment? Definitions of Environmental Assessment, Overview of the Environmental Assessment Process.
3. International Environmental Law
   • Foundations of Environmental Law, Making International Laws (Treaties and Customary Law), Milestones in International Environmental Law, Principles of International Environmental Law, Institutions that influence Environmental Law, Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Law.
4. Domestic Environmental Law
   • Evolving Domestic Environmental Law, Strategies for Domestic Environmental Policy, Establishment of Environmental Standards, Liability, Environmental Impact Assessment, Prior Authorisation and Enforcement.
5. Types of Environmental Assessments
   • Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Impact Statement, Environmental Risk Assessment, Ecological Risk Assessment, Strategic Environment Assessment, Environmental Audit, Regional Risk Screening, Ecological Impact Assessment, Social Impact Assessments and Statements, Economic and Fiscal Impact Assessment, Health Impact Assessment.
6. The Design and Process of Environmental Assessment
   • Steps in the Environmental Assessment Process (Screening, Scoping, Collection and Analysis of Information, Public Consultation and Participation, Reporting the Findings of the Study, Post Project Analysis) Impact Prediction and Evaluation including Impact Identification Methods and Impact Assessment Techniques, Data Collection, Statistical Analysis of Data and Statistical Tests.
7. Writing Environmental Reports
   • Environmental Statements, Report Structure, Suggested Layouts for Environmental Statements, Report Presentation, Examples of Environmental Impact Statements.
8. Research Project
   • The Research Project is the student’s opportunity to test out their skills as an environmental consultant. In this project, the student will go through the steps involved in carrying out an environmental assessment and write it up as a professional report.

ELECTIVE MODULES

Woodlots and Agroforestry

The increased demand for fuel wood and building material in rural areas has caused widespread deforestation of natural woodlands, water catchments and riverine zones, especially in Africa and other disadvantaged countries. In attempts to diminish this problem in South Africa, woodlots have been established in villages throughout the country to supply poles and fuel wood - mostly comprising of gums and wattles.

Agroforestry is the system of incorporating trees and crops. This increases fuel wood production and is gaining favour in many Third World countries. Trees grown among the crops supply timber, nuts, fruit and fodder for cattle. If the species are appropriate they enrich the soil, prevent erosion, retain water and shield the crops from damaging winds and excessive sunlight. If inappropriate, they may starve the crops of water and nutrients or may be poorly adapted to the soil conditions.

Afforestation and the Environment
Because wood and wood products are being supplied from afforested areas, it has prevented over-exploitation and destruction of indigenous forests. If care is not taken, however, unwise planning and poor afforestation management can have negative environmental impacts.

The habitats most severely affected by afforestation include wetlands, grasslands, and forests indigenous to each particular country. Management and planning should take the conservation of natural habitats into consideration in an attempt to solve these problems. Effects on these specific environments include:

• Wetlands
  If plantations are too close to wetlands, perennial streams or their catchment areas, it can lead to an eventual "drying out" because trees use large amounts of water. This can adversely affect species living in the water (eg eels, fish), mammals that drink the water, as well as aquatic birds feeding and breeding in the wetlands.
  
  
• Grasslands
  These support a variety of animals, and many threatened species. Afforestation converts grasslands into plantations, so these animals lose their habitat.
  
  
• Indigenous Forests
  When plantations are created next to indigenous forests, logged trees may fall into the forest margin and cause damage. Once the margin is damaged, it can no longer protect the indigenous forest from fire. Logging may also destroy the diverse habitat found where forests meet the grasslands. The forest margin is an important food source for many forest animals.
  
  
• River Catchments
  Trees use large amounts of water. If afforestation is carried out in water catchments, run-off is reduced which in turn reduces the amount of water available for other uses. Additionally, in places where fertilising the forested plantation takes place, care must be taken regarding chemical run-off. This chemical run-off, or eutrification can have devastating effects on fisheries and
  
  
  

WHAT THIS COURSE CAN DO FOR YOU?

• HELP YOU TO DO SOMETHING WORTHWHILE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT  
• HELP RESTORE SOME OF THE DAMAGE WE OR NATURE HAVE CAUSED
• GIVE YOU THE KNOW HOW TO DO THESE THINGS

Where can this course lead you?

With an ever-increasing demand to “fix” the environment, the environmental restoration economy is providing more and more jobs all the time.

With a background in Environmental Restoration, you may find yourself working in a variety of roles such as:

•    Ecological monitoring e.g. ecological data collection and monitoring.
•    Community engagement e.g. events, fundraisers, education.
•    Communications.
•    Policy
•    Environmental Compliance
•    Administration
•    Feral animal control e.g. fencing and infrastructure maintenance.

Environmental Restoration is applicable to a variety of disciplines and industries including:

•    Local, state and national government e.g. Environment, Natural Resources, Fisheries, Conservation & Land Management, Parks
•    Environment and Disaster Services
•    Research Organisations
•    Private conservation organisations
•    Nature conservancies
•    Ecological Restoration Agencies