Overview of assessment

Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently apply the skills covered in this unit of competency in new and different contexts. Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include:

planning and safely conducting survey and monitoring activities for a range of wetlands that meet user needs

accessing and using existing environmental data sets

obtaining reliable field samples and measurements

providing detailed descriptions of wetland characteristics, existing conditions, management values, environmental issues and possible causes

completing all documentation in the required format and timeframe

working safely and minimising environmental impacts.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment.

Assessment should emphasise a workplace context and procedures found in the candidate’s workplace.

This unit of competency may be assessed with:

MSS024005A Collect spatial and discrete environmental data

MSS024006A Perform sampling and testing of water.

The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.

Resources may include:

access to a range of wetlands

sampling equipment, field instruments and materials

enterprise procedures, test methods and equipment manuals.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

review of wetlands data, results and records prepared by the candidate

feedback from peers and supervisors that the candidate consistently follows enterprise procedures, sampling/measurement procedures and works safely

oral/written questioning associated with surveys and monitoring of wetlands, sampling/measurement equipment and procedures and wetland assessment techniques

observation of the candidate collecting samples and conducting field tests in wetlands.

In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly.

Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.

The language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a work-like environment.

Guidance information for assessment

Required skills

Required skills include:

interpreting procedures, guidelines and manuals

locating and evaluating wetland information

planning and conducting assigned desktop/field activities efficiently

making ‘objective’ observations based on clear criteria

demonstrating correct and safe use of sampling/measuring equipment (including pre-use checks) to obtain valid samples and data

identifying and rectifying basic equipment faults

estimating numbers of flora and fauna, % coverage, and measuring dimensions and areas

assigning assessment scores, index values, health index/rating, and calculating scientific quantities, uncertainties and unit conversion factors

analysing findings of field work to produce reliable results and logical conclusions

providing written reports that meet user needs

communicating effectively with others, such as enterprise staff, members of the public, clients, landowners and consultants

responding effectively to changed or unforeseen circumstances

seeking advice when issues/problems are beyond scope of competence/responsibility

working safely

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

specific legislation, policies and guidelines relevant to field activities

sources of wetland information (e.g. directories, indexes, data sets and assessment tools)

basic terminology and principles of wetland assessment, monitoring and management

defining characteristics and functions of major wetland types

fundamental principles of ecology and assessment of site environmental indicators

environmental factors that impact on soils, water quality, population and diversity of flora and fauna

procedures and equipment for collecting soil, water, (micro) biological samples and environmental measurements (e.g. water)

procedures and equipment for maintaining, storing and transporting samples/specimens to ensure their wellbeing, viability and integrity

procedures and equipment for basic spatial and environmental measurements

enterprise procedures for the recording of field data and reporting of findings

protocols for the confidentiality and security of information and communicating with the community and media

relevant health, safety and environment requirements

Codes of practice

Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used

Legislation, standards, guidelines, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include:

federal legislation, such as:

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

state/territory government legislation and regulations and local government by-laws, policies, and plans dealing with:

land use, acquisition, planning and protection

protection of wetlands

vegetation management

nature conservation and wildlife/plant protection

water quality and water management

soil conservation

pollution and contaminated sites

Australian and international standards, such as:

RAMSAR Convention

AS/NZS 5667 set Water quality

A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia, Environment Australia

ANZECC Wetland Classification System

National Water Commission Framework for the Assessment of River and Wetland Health (FARWH)

state/territory Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) indexes, guidelines and manuals, such as:

Index of Wetland Condition (VIC EPA)

Water Quality Sampling Manual (QLD EPA)

Regulatory monitoring and testing: Water and wastewater sampling (EPA SA)

Wetland Assessment Techniques Manual for Australian Wetlands (Wetlandcare Australia)

Wetlands

Wetlands may include: (ANZECC classification)

marine and coastal zone wetlands

inland wetlands

human made wetlands

State/territory classification systems for wetlands vary and may include:

riverine

palustrine (river, run-off/rainfall, groundwater fed)

lacustine

artificial

marine

spring or groundwater fed

Desktop and field activities

Desktop and field activities may include:

accessing relevant data sets and using GIS techniques to map wetland areas, high conservation areas and/or high degradation areas; and determining priority areas for field assessments

validating GIS mapping of wetland location and type

conducting rapid wetland assessments

assessing condition of specific wetland components, including flora and fauna (type, % cover, dominant species and condition buffers)

collecting information for use in wetland vegetation inventory

assessing disturbance and relating this to wetland condition

trialing a wetland monitoring program

establishing sites for future wetland monitoring

Wetland management plan

A wetland management plan may include:

existing and future values of wetland

wetland management objectives to protect these values

problems and issues that may compromise these objectives

agreed wetland management practices to mitigate existing impacts and minimise future impacts

Wetland data sources and data

Wetland data sources and data may include:

national databases, such as:

Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia

EPBC Online Protected Matters Search Tool

state/territory databases, such as:

Regional Ecosystem (RE) maps, Wildlife Online, Wildnet, Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program (EHMP) surveys (EPA QLD)

Index of Wetland Condition (EPA VIC)

geographic information system GIS datasets, such as:

climate

biological and physical parameters of the land and ocean

management boundaries and tenure

biodiversity

natural resources, agriculture and fisheries

land use information, such as topographical maps, aerial photos, satellite imagery and land use/zoning maps

terrain models

drainage intensity, flood and drainage studies

water and sediment quality studies

contaminated site reports

acid sulphate soil studies

aquatic ecology studies (e.g. threatened/scheduled species, migratory birds, key habitats and habitat corridors/connectivity)

riparian vegetation studies

reports of consultations with the scientific community, local environmental groups and industry associations, catchment management committees, and councils

Survey proformas, data collection forms and field identification guides

Survey proformas and data collection forms will vary greatly with scope and objectives of survey/monitoring activities but data fields may include:

observer identification details (ID)

site ID, (sub) catchment and/or regional ID

ownership, access, location (e.g. global positioning system (GPS)), site photo ID and transect ID

verification of wetland classification (GIS mapped, field) using identification guides and codes

proximity of other wetlands, ecosystems, roads and current/adjacent land use

site disturbance indicators, such as soil disturbance, vegetation structure modification, water quality, hydrologic disturbance, dumping, land use, feral/domestic animals, and weed causal factors

acid sulphate soil indicators, such as iron stain, scald and hydraulic conductivity

general wetland characteristics, such as:

water body dimensions, current/max water level, depth, water sources, modifications and banks

water quality (e.g. visible slime, temperature, turbidity and electrical conductivity)

habitat potential

vegetation buffer/cover/types/health/dominant species/recovery potential

fauna observations

Field identification guides may include:

descriptors, photos and/or coding for wetland types and specific disturbance indicators

Field equipment and materials

Field equipment and materials may include:

topographic maps and aerial photos

compass, survey point markers and drivers, GPS, tape measure, flagging tape, 1m2 quadrats and sub-quadrats

data recording sheets, palm pilot, laptop, data logger, digital camera and binoculars

sampling equipment, such as bottles, bags, biological specimen containers, secateurs, scoop nets, esky and ice, sample preservatives, water pumps and tubing, and shovels

automatic water samplers

portable water quality probe that measures (e.g. dissolved oxygen, temperature, turbidity, pH, conductivity and field test reagents)

flow meters

personal protective equipment, insect repellent, appropriate clothing and footwear, phone, emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) and first aid kit

Laboratory analyses

Laboratory analyses may include:

suspended solids

phosphates

nitrates and ammonium

peroxide oxidation (combined acidity and sulfate for soils)

Environmental issues and possible causes

Environmental issues and possible causes may include:

fragmentation or loss of connectivity of wetlands and/or vegetation

adjacent land use pressure causing excessive nutrients, sediment and noise pollution

human disturbance due to vehicles, boats, fire, rubbish, excessive nutrients and sediments, and impacts of feral/stock/domestic animals

exposure of acid sulphate soils

low diversity of vegetation, invasion by weeds

poor habitat potential due to invasion by pest species and land clearing

structures affecting wetland hydrology

poor condition of banks and fringing vegetation due to access of stock

poor condition of mangrove, salt marsh, seagrass due to impaired natural flow/tidal flush, excessive human disturbance, and impaired vegetative filter strips

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements

OHS and environmental management requirements:

all operations must comply with enterprise OHS and environmental management requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation - these requirements must not be compromised at any time

all operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied

where relevant, users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and State and Territory Departments of Health