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:

Combat soil erosion

SAQA US ID	UNIT STANDARD TITLE
252457	Combat soil erosion
ORIGINATOR
SGB Nature Conservation
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-
FIELD			SUBFIELD
Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation			Nature Conservation
ABET BAND	UNIT STANDARD TYPE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	CREDITS
Undefined	Regular	Level 2	NQF Level 02	8
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
2026-06-30		2029-06-30

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 replaces:

US ID	Unit Standard Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Credits	Replacement Status
8331	Combat Soil erosion	Level 2	NQF Level 02	2

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD

This unit standard is aimed at individuals involved in the combating of soil erosion. The standard enables the relevant knowledge and skills required to understand the necessity to take preventative measures against soil erosion, assist in erosion control and the identification and reporting of sites of erosion. Individuals found competent in this unit standard will be able to implement erosion control measures; reflect on measures taken and learn from their impact. This competence will contribute to reducing topsoil loss and thereby enhancing the sustainability of the environment.

Persons credited with this unit standard will be able to:

Detect soil erosion sites.

Detect and explain the causes of erosion.

Control erosion through taking appropriate remedial action in the long and short term.

Implement systems of remediation and report on them.

Evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions and improve on them.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

It is assumed that the learner is competent in Communication and Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 1.

It is furthermore assumed that learners embarking on this unit standard are familiar with:

Orientate, navigate, use and create maps in conservation areas.

UNIT STANDARD RANGE

N/A

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria:

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1

Evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions and improve on them.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

A list is made of the techniques that are currently available.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

A detailed explanatory note is written on each of these techniques.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

A summary is given of the techniques that were found to work best under particular conditions.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Lessons learned are noted in order to apply these to future practice.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

A report on remedial actions taken is given and possible aspects for improvement are identified.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6

Assistance is rendered in the rehabilitation of selected areas by planting grass and/or other forms of vegetation as appropriate.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2

Implement systems of remediation and report on them.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Assistance is rendered in planning, organizing and implementing remediation.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

A report is prepared outlining the problem and the proposed solution.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

The signs of erosion, possible causes, and extent of erosion as well as remedial actions taken.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Suggestions are made on possible remedial intervention actions.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3

Control erosion through taking appropriate remedial action in the long and short term.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Interventions are implemented that are aimed at controlling the causes of erosion in the particular area.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

A selection is made of techniques appropriate to the problem.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Gabion baskets, branches, water bars and barriers, active seeding, capping, contouring, erosion reclamation, boardwalks, stone packing, brush packing, cladding.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

The techniques employed are justified in terms of ecological principles.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4

Detect and explain the causes of erosion.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

A determination is made of the causes of soil erosion in terms of the likely factors.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

New road, rutting by vehicles, trampling, overgrazing, bush encroachment, deforestation, aforestation, fire, environmentally inappropriate use of resources, roads, runoff.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

The precise nature of the damage done is specified with a view to stopping or limiting soil erosion.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5

Detect soil erosion sites.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Accurate observations are carried out for the purpose of detecting the following signs of soil erosion at a site.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Missing topsoil, areas denuded of vegetation, gullies, basic soil profiles, and evidence of excessive runoff.

UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS

Anyone assessing an individual against this Unit Standard must meet the assessor requirements of the relevant ETQA.

In particular, such assessors must demonstrate that they assess in terms of the scope and context defined in all the range statements.

Any institution offering learning towards this Unit Standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA.

External moderation of assessment will be conducted by the relevant ETQA at its discretion according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures.

UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE

Features of erosion.

Causes of erosion.

Techniques for controlling erosion.

Basic characteristics of soil types and their erodability.

Environmentally appropriate, safe use and maintenance of equipment to be used in soil control (e.g. pliers, spades, hoes, wheelbarrows, saws, tractors and trailers).

Context specific reporting requirements.

UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME

N/A

UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES

N/A

Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO):

UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING

Organise and manage own activities:

Providing assistance in interventions aimed at combating soil erosion requires the learner to work in a methodical and systematic manner.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE

Use of science and technology:

It is important for a learner to understand what "soil erosion" is and why this is a problem. A sound knowledge, at elementary level, of some soil science and related biological and ecological principles is an essential part of the learning contemplated in this unit standard. The unit standard emphasizes the study of interventions to effectively combat soil erosion.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING

See the world as a set of interrelated systems:

A clear understanding of ecological principles related to soil erosion is essential for successfully completing this unit standard.

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

This unit standard replaces unit standard 8331 Combat soil erosion", Level 2, 2 credits.

Demonstration of the knowledge and skills outlined in this unit standard must be consistent with the principles of:

Maintaining essential ecological processes and life-support systems.

Maintaining genetic, species and ecosystem diversity.

Considering ecological and social rights and responsibilities, whilst ensuring sustainable utilization of species and ecosystems, thereby yielding the greatest sustainable and equitable benefit to present generations whilst maintaining the potential to meet the needs and aspirations of future generations.

Supplementary information:

A basic description of erosion and its causes is given which matches visual site features.

Techniques, which are appropriate to the site and causes of erosion, are demonstrated.

An accurate report that contains the required information is made to the relevant person.

Obstacles to efficient and effective performance are identified.

Lessons learnt are built into plans for future action.

QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD:

	ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	STATUS	END DATE	PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
Core	59389	National Certificate: Nature Conservation: Resource Guardianship	Level 2	NQF Level 02	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2023-06-30	CATHSSETA

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.	The Nature College