SAQA

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.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Diploma in Nature Conservation

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
100986	Diploma in Nature Conservation
ORIGINATOR
Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Diploma (Min 360)	Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation		Nature Conservation
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	360	Not Applicable	NQF Level 06	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered		EXCO 0436/25	2024-07-01	2027-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30		2033-06-30

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 qualification replaces:

Qual ID	Qualification Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Replacement Status
72620	National Diploma: Nature Conservation	Level 6	NQF Level 06	360	Complete

This qualification is replaced by:

Qual ID	Qualification Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Replacement Status
112485	Diploma in Nature Conservation	Not Applicable	NQF Level 06	360	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:
This qualification is to supply the wildlife ranching industry in southern Africa with managerial assistants/practitioner in sustainable game production and utilisation. This is to be achieved through participation in the managing of natural vegetation, ungulates, infrastructure, administration, finances and people on game farms and game production systems. The qualification is aimed at game farm and game ranch managers, managers of hunting operations and wildlife research assistants. Once qualified, they participate in the sustainable and responsible utilisation of wildlife areas for consumptive and non-consumptive use, management of hunting, tourism, natural resources protection, resource economics, and community based wildlife utilisation, and management of finances and infrastructure of game farming systems. They will work in the wildlife ranching and/or game farming industry, as well as in the related tourism industry aligned with the current and future needs of the country.

Rationale:
This qualification provides practical and career focussed personnel, trained specifically for the needs of the Conservation Industry in Southern Africa. Key aspects of the industry that are addressed in this curriculum are protected area management and development, enforcement of environmental and conservation legislation, assistance with monitoring and research within and outside of conservation areas, environmental education and community development. The qualification gives access to a variety of jobs in the conservation industry, which includes protected area managers (reserve managers), game rangers, field guides, environmental education officers, environmental law enforcement officers, research assistants, environmental impact assessors, Conservation Non-Profit Organisation(NGO) operations officers, restoration practitioners and game capturers.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
As per institutional policy, Credits towards this qualification may be obtained by means of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:

National Senior Certificate National Qualifications Framework(NQF) Level 4.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification consists of compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 5 and 6 totalling 360 Credits.
Compulsory Modules Level 5 ,120 Credits:

Earth and Soil Studies I, 12 Credits.

Communication for Academic Purposes, 10 Credits.

Conservation Development I, 12 Credits.

Information Literacy I, 2 Credits.

Animal Studies I, 24 Credits.

Conservation Ecology I, 12 Credits.

Botany I, 24 Credits.

Natural Resource Management I, 12 Credits.

Life Skills I, 2 Credits.

Computer Literacy, 10 Credits.

Compulsory Module 2, Level 6, 240 Credits:

Conservation Ecology II, 24 Credits.

Botany and Veld Management II, 24 Credits.

Natural Resource Management II, 12 Credits.

Conservation Legislation I, 12 Credits.

Environmental Education I, 24 Credits.

Animal Studies II, 24 Credits.

Work Integrated Learning(WIL) in Nature Conservation I ,120 Credits.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Demonstrate knowledge and an understanding of the principles and functions of ecosystems and key components.
2. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the best practice management of natural resource systems and associated utilisation activities such as culling, hunting and sustainable game production and tourism.
3. Identify, evaluate and solve defined, routine and new problems within the field of maintenance of infra-structure and equipment commensurate with modern game ranching operations.
4. Account for administration of wildlife undertakings within a defined context.
5. Interact with all stakeholders in the industry, communicating information reliably, accurately and coherently, using conventions appropriate to the context, either in writing, verbally or in practical demonstration.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The following Associated Assessment Criteria will be used in an integrated manner across the Exit Level Outcomes:
Apply and understand the knowledge including the current appropriate terminology of:

Natural environment, Human influence on ecosystems, Environmental conservation Environmental planning and management and soil conservation, Reclamation practices, and Vegetation.

Monitor and Evaluate veld, Manage appropriate vegetation, Animals Game farm, and Game species and numbers and Water for game.

Factors influencing types of watering points are considered.

Supplementary geed for game.

Knowledge of digestibility is demonstrated and applied.

Cropping and handling of Game-Knowledge of an ideal cropping system is demonstrated and applied.

Capture and transport game, Veld, Predators, Feeding studies.

Infrastructure Game fences are erected and maintained effectively.

Legislation- knowledge of appropriate legislation is demonstrated and applied.

Integrated Assessment:
Formative Assessment:

Formative assessment will take place during practicals and on excursions, during seminar presentations, discussions and project sessions. Continual formative assessment feedback will be given to assist in determining progress achievement and achievement of learning outcomes.

Summative Assessment:
Summative assessment which tests the learner's ability to integrate the larger body of knowledge, skills and attitudes that are represented by the Exit Level Outcomes as a whole will be achieved mainly during the experiential training period when students have to develop a comprehensive and integrated management plan, and in reports on all aspects of tasks in a variety of learning fields which they did, or participated in.

Work Integrated Learning (WIL):
The WIL structure is through a comprehensive study guide, directing the training of students for a practically orientated career and vocation. This is divided into two semesters; Fifteen work related tasks are expected to be completed and a progress report on the management plan of a 2000 ha conservation area. Another fifteen tasks and the final version of the management plan of the 2000 has conservation area mentioned in the first point must be completed.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

Polytechnic of Namibia, Department of Nature Conservation: The following certificates and diploma are presented: National Certificate: Nature Conservation (Techniques) (1 y); National Certificate: Namibian
Environmental Certificate or Certificate: Community-Based Natural Resource Management (1 y); National Diploma: Natural Resource Management (Nature Conservation) (1 y); Advanced Diploma: Nature Conservation (1y). The curriculum of the qualification is largely similar. Auckland University of Technology: a 3-year Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Studies is offered.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.
Vertical Articulation:

Advanced Diploma in Nature Conservation, Level 7.

Horizontal Articulation:

Diploma in Nature Management, Level 6.

Diploma: Natural Resource Management, Level 6.

MODERATION OPTIONS

N/A

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

N/A

NOTES

N/A

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced qualification.

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

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.

1.	Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)