National Diploma in Natural Resources Management
This course develops your ability to understand wildlife and fisheries management as part of the responsible use of natural resources.
About the course
This course develops your ability to understand wildlife and fisheries management as part of the responsible use of natural resources. Learning combines technical study with practical tasks relevant to Southern African organisations and communities.
What you'll learn
Explain ecological relationships relevant to managed wildlife and fisheries.
Collect and interpret field information using an appropriate method.
Develop management recommendations with attention to communities and resource use.
Requirements
Prepare evidence of relevant certificate study or comparable prior learning for the provider's admission review. Refresh the subject knowledge, calculations and practical skills needed for diploma work. Plan access to the supervised workplace, laboratory or project resources required by the course.
Course content
The programme combines supporting studies, specialist subjects and practical integration. Each subject below includes its learning focus, outcomes, practice and assessment.
2 learning stages 12 subjects
1Specialist subjects10 subjects
2Practical integration2 subjects
Subjects in this programme
The programme combines supporting studies, specialist subjects and practical integration. Each subject below includes its learning focus, outcomes, practice and assessment.
12 subjects are listed below with a short description of each. The Subject descriptions tab contains the learning outcomes, topics, practical tasks and assessments.
Specialist subjects
- Wildlife Ecology. Explore the assessment and responsible management of ecosystems and biological resources. Practice centres on a local resource assessment and management proposal, drawing on habitats, species and ecological relationships and resource use and community livelihoods. You will record findings, justify decisions and check ecological evidence, affected users and the feasibility of monitoring.
- Wildlife Management. Explore the assessment and responsible management of ecosystems and biological resources. Practice centres on a local resource assessment and management proposal, drawing on habitats, species and ecological relationships and resource use and community livelihoods. You will record findings, justify decisions and check ecological evidence, affected users and the feasibility of monitoring.
- Range And Forestry Management. Explore the assessment and responsible management of ecosystems and biological resources. Practice centres on a local resource assessment and management proposal, drawing on habitats, species and ecological relationships and resource use and community livelihoods. You will record findings, justify decisions and check ecological evidence, affected users and the feasibility of monitoring.
- Wildlife Business Administration. Explore the assessment and responsible management of ecosystems and biological resources. Practice centres on a local resource assessment and management proposal, drawing on habitats, species and ecological relationships and resource use and community livelihoods. You will record findings, justify decisions and check ecological evidence, affected users and the feasibility of monitoring.
- Tourism Management. Explore the coordination of visitor services through accurate information and reliable operations. Practice centres on a visitor-service plan and simulated operating portfolio, drawing on visitor needs and service standards and reservations, itineraries or work schedules. You will record findings, justify decisions and check accuracy, coordination and evidence of meeting visitor needs.
- Fisheries Management. Explore the assessment and responsible management of ecosystems and biological resources. Practice centres on a local resource assessment and management proposal, drawing on habitats, species and ecological relationships and resource use and community livelihoods. You will record findings, justify decisions and check ecological evidence, affected users and the feasibility of monitoring.
- Conservation Systems And Technologies. Explore the assessment and responsible management of ecosystems and biological resources. Practice centres on a local resource assessment and management proposal, drawing on habitats, species and ecological relationships and resource use and community livelihoods. You will record findings, justify decisions and check ecological evidence, affected users and the feasibility of monitoring.
- Biodiversity Laws And Governance. Explore the assessment and responsible management of ecosystems and biological resources. Practice centres on a local resource assessment and management proposal, drawing on habitats, species and ecological relationships and resource use and community livelihoods. You will record findings, justify decisions and check ecological evidence, affected users and the feasibility of monitoring.
- Wildlife Research Techniques. Explore the design of a focused investigation using traceable evidence. Practice centres on a research proposal and small investigation, drawing on problem definition and research questions and finding and evaluating literature. You will record findings, justify decisions and check whether the conclusions follow from the evidence.
- Community Based Natural Resources Management. Explore the assessment and responsible management of ecosystems and biological resources. Practice centres on a local resource assessment and management proposal, drawing on habitats, species and ecological relationships and resource use and community livelihoods. You will record findings, justify decisions and check ecological evidence, affected users and the feasibility of monitoring.
Practical integration
- On The Job Education And Training. Apply your learning through agreed duties in a supervised workplace. You will connect wildlife ecology, wildlife management with routine service or production responsibilities. Keep evidence of preparation, work completed and feedback. Review your progress with the supervisor and explain how your decisions affect quality, safety and other people.
- Skills Proficiency. Demonstrate the practical skills developed across the programme. Tasks integrate wildlife ecology, wildlife management within an agreed work brief. You will prepare resources, carry out the authorised task and check the result. Your evidence should show consistent performance, accurate records and an explanation of decisions within your learner role.
Assessment and practical learning
- Suggested learning checks: analyse applied problems and justify your decisions using relevant evidence.
- Suggested practical assessment: complete a supervised project or portfolio with a clear method, results and evaluation.
- Present and defend your recommendations, then revise the work in response to assessor feedback.
Practical application
Produce a local resource-management case study with a field-data plan, stakeholder analysis and proposed monitoring indicators.
Subject descriptions
Select a subject to read its learning outcomes, main topics, practical task and assessment.
Specialist subjects
Wildlife Ecology
Explore the assessment and responsible management of ecosystems and biological resources. Practice centres on a local resource assessment and management proposal, drawing on habitats, species and ecological relationships and resource use and community livelihoods. You will record findings, justify decisions and check ecological evidence, affected users and the feasibility of monitoring.
Learning outcomes
- Describe ecological relationships relevant to a resource issue.
- Interpret field or community evidence with stated limits.
- Prepare a management proposal with practical monitoring indicators.
Main topics
- Habitats, species and ecological relationships
- Resource use and community livelihoods
- Field observations and survey methods
- Threats, conservation and management options
- Governance, participation and access
- Monitoring indicators and adaptive review
Practical task
For Wildlife Ecology, prepare a local resource assessment and management proposal in a natural resources management setting. Use supplied records, a realistic simulation or authorised supervised practice. Include your working and checks of ecological evidence, affected users and the feasibility of monitoring.
Assessment
Applied questions, a worked case and an individual explanation supported by calculations, diagrams or records. Compare alternatives and justify the selected response using evidence.
Wildlife Management
Explore the assessment and responsible management of ecosystems and biological resources. Practice centres on a local resource assessment and management proposal, drawing on habitats, species and ecological relationships and resource use and community livelihoods. You will record findings, justify decisions and check ecological evidence, affected users and the feasibility of monitoring.
Learning outcomes
- Describe ecological relationships relevant to a resource issue.
- Interpret field or community evidence with stated limits.
- Prepare a management proposal with practical monitoring indicators.
Main topics
- Habitats, species and ecological relationships
- Resource use and community livelihoods
- Field observations and survey methods
- Threats, conservation and management options
- Governance, participation and access
- Monitoring indicators and adaptive review
Practical task
For Wildlife Management, prepare a local resource assessment and management proposal in a natural resources management setting. Use supplied records, a realistic simulation or authorised supervised practice. Include your working and checks of ecological evidence, affected users and the feasibility of monitoring.
Assessment
Applied questions, a worked case and an individual explanation supported by calculations, diagrams or records. Compare alternatives and justify the selected response using evidence.
Range And Forestry Management
Explore the assessment and responsible management of ecosystems and biological resources. Practice centres on a local resource assessment and management proposal, drawing on habitats, species and ecological relationships and resource use and community livelihoods. You will record findings, justify decisions and check ecological evidence, affected users and the feasibility of monitoring.
Learning outcomes
- Describe ecological relationships relevant to a resource issue.
- Interpret field or community evidence with stated limits.
- Prepare a management proposal with practical monitoring indicators.
Main topics
- Habitats, species and ecological relationships
- Resource use and community livelihoods
- Field observations and survey methods
- Threats, conservation and management options
- Governance, participation and access
- Monitoring indicators and adaptive review
Practical task
For Range And Forestry Management, prepare a local resource assessment and management proposal in a natural resources management setting. Use supplied records, a realistic simulation or authorised supervised practice. Include your working and checks of ecological evidence, affected users and the feasibility of monitoring.
Assessment
Applied questions, a worked case and an individual explanation supported by calculations, diagrams or records. Compare alternatives and justify the selected response using evidence.
Wildlife Business Administration
Explore the assessment and responsible management of ecosystems and biological resources. Practice centres on a local resource assessment and management proposal, drawing on habitats, species and ecological relationships and resource use and community livelihoods. You will record findings, justify decisions and check ecological evidence, affected users and the feasibility of monitoring.
Learning outcomes
- Describe ecological relationships relevant to a resource issue.
- Interpret field or community evidence with stated limits.
- Prepare a management proposal with practical monitoring indicators.
Main topics
- Habitats, species and ecological relationships
- Resource use and community livelihoods
- Field observations and survey methods
- Threats, conservation and management options
- Governance, participation and access
- Monitoring indicators and adaptive review
Practical task
For Wildlife Business Administration, prepare a local resource assessment and management proposal in a natural resources management setting. Use supplied records, a realistic simulation or authorised supervised practice. Include your working and checks of ecological evidence, affected users and the feasibility of monitoring.
Assessment
Applied questions, a worked case and an individual explanation supported by calculations, diagrams or records. Compare alternatives and justify the selected response using evidence.
Tourism Management
Explore the coordination of visitor services through accurate information and reliable operations. Practice centres on a visitor-service plan and simulated operating portfolio, drawing on visitor needs and service standards and reservations, itineraries or work schedules. You will record findings, justify decisions and check accuracy, coordination and evidence of meeting visitor needs.
Learning outcomes
- Plan a visitor-service task around stated requirements.
- Maintain accurate operating and customer records.
- Evaluate service quality and recommend a practical improvement.
Main topics
- Visitor needs and service standards
- Reservations, itineraries or work schedules
- Facilities, resources and operating procedures
- Guest communication and service recovery
- Cost, records and departmental coordination
- Quality review and responsible destination practice
Practical task
For Tourism Management, prepare a visitor-service plan and simulated operating portfolio in a natural resources management setting. Use supplied records, a realistic simulation or authorised supervised practice. Include your working and checks of accuracy, coordination and evidence of meeting visitor needs.
Assessment
Applied questions, a worked case and an individual explanation supported by calculations, diagrams or records. Compare alternatives and justify the selected response using evidence.
Fisheries Management
Explore the assessment and responsible management of ecosystems and biological resources. Practice centres on a local resource assessment and management proposal, drawing on habitats, species and ecological relationships and resource use and community livelihoods. You will record findings, justify decisions and check ecological evidence, affected users and the feasibility of monitoring.
Learning outcomes
- Describe ecological relationships relevant to a resource issue.
- Interpret field or community evidence with stated limits.
- Prepare a management proposal with practical monitoring indicators.
Main topics
- Habitats, species and ecological relationships
- Resource use and community livelihoods
- Field observations and survey methods
- Threats, conservation and management options
- Governance, participation and access
- Monitoring indicators and adaptive review
Practical task
For Fisheries Management, prepare a local resource assessment and management proposal in a natural resources management setting. Use supplied records, a realistic simulation or authorised supervised practice. Include your working and checks of ecological evidence, affected users and the feasibility of monitoring.
Assessment
Applied questions, a worked case and an individual explanation supported by calculations, diagrams or records. Compare alternatives and justify the selected response using evidence.
Conservation Systems And Technologies
Explore the assessment and responsible management of ecosystems and biological resources. Practice centres on a local resource assessment and management proposal, drawing on habitats, species and ecological relationships and resource use and community livelihoods. You will record findings, justify decisions and check ecological evidence, affected users and the feasibility of monitoring.
Learning outcomes
- Describe ecological relationships relevant to a resource issue.
- Interpret field or community evidence with stated limits.
- Prepare a management proposal with practical monitoring indicators.
Main topics
- Habitats, species and ecological relationships
- Resource use and community livelihoods
- Field observations and survey methods
- Threats, conservation and management options
- Governance, participation and access
- Monitoring indicators and adaptive review
Practical task
For Conservation Systems And Technologies, prepare a local resource assessment and management proposal in a natural resources management setting. Use supplied records, a realistic simulation or authorised supervised practice. Include your working and checks of ecological evidence, affected users and the feasibility of monitoring.
Assessment
Applied questions, a worked case and an individual explanation supported by calculations, diagrams or records. Compare alternatives and justify the selected response using evidence.
Biodiversity Laws And Governance
Explore the assessment and responsible management of ecosystems and biological resources. Practice centres on a local resource assessment and management proposal, drawing on habitats, species and ecological relationships and resource use and community livelihoods. You will record findings, justify decisions and check ecological evidence, affected users and the feasibility of monitoring.
Learning outcomes
- Describe ecological relationships relevant to a resource issue.
- Interpret field or community evidence with stated limits.
- Prepare a management proposal with practical monitoring indicators.
Main topics
- Habitats, species and ecological relationships
- Resource use and community livelihoods
- Field observations and survey methods
- Threats, conservation and management options
- Governance, participation and access
- Monitoring indicators and adaptive review
Practical task
For Biodiversity Laws And Governance, prepare a local resource assessment and management proposal in a natural resources management setting. Use supplied records, a realistic simulation or authorised supervised practice. Include your working and checks of ecological evidence, affected users and the feasibility of monitoring.
Assessment
Applied questions, a worked case and an individual explanation supported by calculations, diagrams or records. Compare alternatives and justify the selected response using evidence.
Wildlife Research Techniques
Explore the design of a focused investigation using traceable evidence. Practice centres on a research proposal and small investigation, drawing on problem definition and research questions and finding and evaluating literature. You will record findings, justify decisions and check whether the conclusions follow from the evidence.
Learning outcomes
- Formulate a question suited to the available evidence and resources.
- Collect and analyse information using a documented method.
- Present conclusions supported by findings and stated limitations.
Main topics
- Problem definition and research questions
- Finding and evaluating literature
- Sampling and data-collection choices
- Consent, confidentiality and research integrity
- Organising and analysing evidence
- Interpreting results and reporting limitations
Practical task
For Wildlife Research Techniques, prepare a research proposal and small investigation in a natural resources management setting. Use supplied records, a realistic simulation or authorised supervised practice. Include your working and checks of whether the conclusions follow from the evidence.
Assessment
Applied questions, a worked case and an individual explanation supported by calculations, diagrams or records. Compare alternatives and justify the selected response using evidence.
Community Based Natural Resources Management
Explore the assessment and responsible management of ecosystems and biological resources. Practice centres on a local resource assessment and management proposal, drawing on habitats, species and ecological relationships and resource use and community livelihoods. You will record findings, justify decisions and check ecological evidence, affected users and the feasibility of monitoring.
Learning outcomes
- Describe ecological relationships relevant to a resource issue.
- Interpret field or community evidence with stated limits.
- Prepare a management proposal with practical monitoring indicators.
Main topics
- Habitats, species and ecological relationships
- Resource use and community livelihoods
- Field observations and survey methods
- Threats, conservation and management options
- Governance, participation and access
- Monitoring indicators and adaptive review
Practical task
For Community Based Natural Resources Management, prepare a local resource assessment and management proposal in a natural resources management setting. Use supplied records, a realistic simulation or authorised supervised practice. Include your working and checks of ecological evidence, affected users and the feasibility of monitoring.
Assessment
Applied questions, a worked case and an individual explanation supported by calculations, diagrams or records. Compare alternatives and justify the selected response using evidence.
Practical integration
On The Job Education And Training
Apply your learning through agreed duties in a supervised workplace. You will connect wildlife ecology, wildlife management with routine service or production responsibilities. Keep evidence of preparation, work completed and feedback. Review your progress with the supervisor and explain how your decisions affect quality, safety and other people.
Learning outcomes
- Complete agreed duties within the supervised role.
- Maintain a traceable record of work and feedback.
- Evaluate progress and identify specific development needs.
Main topics
- Workplace induction and agreed duties
- Applying technical knowledge to real work
- Work records and evidence of contribution
- Team communication and professional conduct
- Supervisor feedback and skills development
- Reflective review and future learning priorities
Practical task
Complete supervised duties linked to National Diploma in Natural Resources Management. Keep a logbook, samples of permitted work and supervisor feedback.
Assessment
Assessment uses the agreed work plan, supervisor observation, work evidence and an individual reflective discussion.
Skills Proficiency
Demonstrate the practical skills developed across the programme. Tasks integrate wildlife ecology, wildlife management within an agreed work brief. You will prepare resources, carry out the authorised task and check the result. Your evidence should show consistent performance, accurate records and an explanation of decisions within your learner role.
Learning outcomes
- Plan and complete an integrated task to agreed criteria.
- Demonstrate safe and consistent practical performance.
- Explain the result and correct identified weaknesses.
Main topics
- Interpreting an integrated work brief
- Preparing tools, information and resources
- Demonstrating the required technical skills
- Checking output against agreed criteria
- Responding to faults and assessor feedback
- Presenting evidence and explaining decisions
Practical task
Produce a local resource-management case study with a field-data plan, stakeholder analysis and proposed monitoring indicators.
Assessment
Direct observation, the completed output, a quality-check record and oral questions provide the evidence for this subject.
Instructors
