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 UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Prepare an operational harvest plan 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
117070  Prepare an operational harvest plan 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Forestry 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation Forestry and Wood Technology 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 4  NQF Level 04  4 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

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 unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit is for people who prepare operational harvest plans. People credited with this unit are able to:
  • Explain the impacts, interrelationships and protection requirements associated with harvesting operations.
  • Collect data for the preparation of an operational harvest plan.
  • Balance the harvesting and transport system with regard to equipment and personnel allocations required for the specific site conditions.
  • Determine the operational requirements for the stand to be harvested. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Explain the impacts, impacts, interrelationships and protection requirements associated with harvesting operations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The importance of the 8 values is briefly described in terms section 2 of the Guidelines. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Soil; water; forest health and hygiene; scientific and ecological values; palaeontological archaeological and historical sites; aesthetic and recreational values; human resources; commercial values.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Tactics to reduce the potential adverse effects of harvesting on the values are explained in terms section 2 of the Guidelines. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    The number in brackets indicates the number of tactics to be explained) Soil (5); water (5); forest health and hygiene (5); scientific and ecological values (3); palaeontological, archaeological, and historical sites (3); aesthetic and recreational values (5); human resources (5); commercial values (3).
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The interrelationship between felling, conversion, extraction,stacking, loading and transport is explained in terms of productivity. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The impact of harvesting on silviculture is explained in terms of productivity. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Post-harvesting operations are described in terms of section 6 of the Guidelines. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Collect data for the preparation of an operational harvest plan. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Data is collected from sources for the preparation of an operational harvest plan. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Data includes average dbh, stems/ha, average volume/tree, average height, age, species, total volume, total volume/product, ground roughness, ground conditions, slopes, wet/dry weather compartment, slopes, special management zones. Sources of data could include enumeration data, stand records, maps, gis systems, tactical plan.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Data is verified in-field to ensure the integrity thereof. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Balance the harvesting and transport system with regard to equipment and personnel allocations required for the specific site conditions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The harvesting and transport system to be used, is explained in terms of matching the available equipment with the site conditions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The cost, productivity and utilisation levels of equipment are determined in order to ensure economic feasibility and to balance the system. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Cost must be expressed in R/m3 or R/ton, but the learner does not need to calculate R/machine hour.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The cost and productivity of personnel are determined in order to ensure economic feasibility and to balance the system. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The harvesting and transport system is balanced in terms of equipment and personnel allocation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Time required to complete the operation is determined in terms of the resource allocation. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Determine the operational requirements for the stand to be harvested. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Roads are identified for the transportation of timber and corrective action identified to ensure that they are suitable for the task. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Corrective action could include new roads, upgrade, grade, patch work and drainage.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The position, size and type of landing are determined in consultation with the machine operators and supervisor according to accessibility to extraction and transport vehicles, the volume of timber to be handled and environmental requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Environmental requirements in section 3.5.2 of the Guidelines must be adhered to.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The position of extraction routes is determined in consultation with the machine operators and supervisor according to machine capabilities, environmental requirements and landing locations. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Environmental requirements in section 4.3 of the Guidelines must be adhered to.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Felling direction and layout are determined in consultation with the machine operators and supervisor in order to complement extraction and to comply with environmental requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Environmental requirements in section 4.2 of the Guidelines must be adhered to.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Explain the work organisation for the stand to be harvested. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Where what equipment and personnel will work; general safety requirements for the operation; where, who and how quantity and quality will be controlled.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    The relevant information is displayed on a large scale contour map. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Relevant information includes compartment boundries, special management zones, terrain features, felling direction and layout, extraction routes, landing locations, roads, stream and river crossings (if applicable), direction of extraction and timber transport.
     


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Providers of learning towards this unit will need to meet the accreditation requirements of the Forest Industries Education and Training Authority.

    Moderation option: The moderation requirements of the Forest Industries Education and Training Authority must be met. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Names and functions of:
  • The 8 values of harvesting operations

    Attributes, descriptions, characteristics and properties of:
  • Impacts
  • Interrelationships
  • Protection requirements
  • The 8 values of harvesting operations
  • Sources to collect data from

    Sensory cues:
  • What I see and hear during the process

    Purpose of:
  • Harvest plan
  • Protection requirements
  • Compiling data

    Regulations, legislation, agreements, policies, standards:
  • Standard operating procedures: "Guidelines for Forest Engineering Practices in South Africa" (FESA)
  • Safety, Health and Environmental (SHE) legislation

    Theory: rules, principles, laws:
  • The position, size and type of landing
  • The position of extraction routes
  • Felling direction and layout
  • Roads that are identified

    Relationships, systems:
  • Balance the harvesting and transport system
  • The interrelationship between felling, conversion, extraction, stacking, loading and transport 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems
  • Relating to preparing an operational harvest plan 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others
  • When interacting with team members and colleagues during the planning, preparation, and completion of the harvest plan 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage myself and my activities
  • When collecting data
  • When managing resources and my time 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively
  • When completing and processing documentation
  • When submitting reports and/or reporting to the relevant department 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically
  • When using information technology to source technical data and to generate and submit reports 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems
  • When I can explain and justify my actions and procedures followed when preparing the operational harvest plan 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  48988   National Certificate: Forestry: Timber Harvesting  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  FPMSETA 
    Elective  66349   Further Education and Training Certificate: General Forestry  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2015-06-30  FPMSETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    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. AFRICAN MULTISKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING 
    2. Furniture World Training Centre 
    3. Legal Environment Safety & Health Requirements cc 
    4. Phambile Skills Training (Pty) Ltd 
    5. South African Forestry Training College 
    6. TAMASA TRAINING PTY LTD 
    7. VCK TRAINING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES PTY LTD 
    8. VEB CELE & ASSOCIATES PTY LTD 
    9. VPK BUSINESS VENTURE C C 


    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.