Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

FWPCOT3255 Mapping and Delivery Guide
Apply silvicultural principles

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency FWPCOT3255 - Apply silvicultural principles
Description
Employability Skills
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit of competency describes the outcomes required to access, interpret and apply sustainable silvicultural principles to forests. It applies to those who identify target species, and who select and maintain merchantable trees for forest operations.The unit applies to Forestry technician, Nursery technician, Supervisor (Forestry operations), Tree planter, Silviculturist, Arboriculture technicianNo licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.

The following resources must be made available:

forest operations site

workplace requirements and site standards for applying silvicultural principles

resources outlining the principles, policies, procedures and requirements for applying silvicultural principles

relevant personnel for the purposes of communicating information

Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.

Assessor requirements

Assessors must:

hold the appropriate assessor competency standards as outlined in regulations; and

be able to demonstrate vocational competencies at least to the level being assessed; and

be able to demonstrate how they are continuing to develop their VET knowledge and skills as well as maintaining their industry currency and assessor competence.
Prerequisites/co-requisites
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities 		Slides
PPT 		Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Prepare for silvicultural work
  • Identify and review information on regulatory requirements for sustainable forest operations for various forest types.
  • Identify and interpret key principles and requirements that inform sustainable silvicultural methods and techniques.
  • Identify target species in line with approved forest operational plan and organisational procedures.
  • Review work order and identify and clarify sustainable forest requirements.
       
Element: Assess forest condition
  • Select and use appropriate techniques and tools to measure tree and stand height.
  • Calculate basal area and assess tree dominance and crown vigour using an approved industry process.
  • Determine and record standing tree defects.
  • Identify and mark merchantable trees in line with organisational procedures.
       
Element: Implement silvicultural practices
  • Calculate and apply tree retention and stocking criteria according to operational plan.
  • Select appropriate silvicultural methods and techniques to meet environmental and production requirements.
  • Identify situations requiring specialist advice and seek assistance.
       
Element: Monitor work practices
  • Monitor and maintain sustainable forest practices.
  • Monitor and adjust work practices to meet changing conditions.
  • Identify and report non-compliant work practices to appropriate personnel.
  • Identify improved work practices and recommend improvements to sivicultural operations.
       
Element: Maintain records
  • Revise and update forest operational plan and organisational procedures as required.
  • Record and report silvicultural activities to appropriate personnel.
       


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions.

1. Prepare for silvicultural work

1.1 Identify and review information on regulatory requirements for sustainable forest operations for various forest types.

1.2 Identify and interpret key principles and requirements that inform sustainable silvicultural methods and techniques.

1.3 Identify target species in line with approved forest operational plan and organisational procedures.

1.4 Review work order and identify and clarify sustainable forest requirements.

2. Assess forest condition

2.1 Select and use appropriate techniques and tools to measure tree and stand height.

2.2 Calculate basal area and assess tree dominance and crown vigour using an approved industry process.

2.3 Determine and record standing tree defects.

2.4 Identify and mark merchantable trees in line with organisational procedures.

3. Implement silvicultural practices

3.1 Calculate and apply tree retention and stocking criteria according to operational plan.

3.2 Select appropriate silvicultural methods and techniques to meet environmental and production requirements.

3.3 Identify situations requiring specialist advice and seek assistance.

4. Monitor work practices

4.1 Monitor and maintain sustainable forest practices.

4.2 Monitor and adjust work practices to meet changing conditions.

4.3 Identify and report non-compliant work practices to appropriate personnel.

4.4 Identify improved work practices and recommend improvements to sivicultural operations.

5. Maintain records

5.1 Revise and update forest operational plan and organisational procedures as required.

5.2 Record and report silvicultural activities to appropriate personnel.

A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy all of the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit. If a specific volume or frequency is not stated below, then evidence must be provided that the following requirements have been performed on at least one occasion:

application of appropriate industry-accepted silvicultural principles including:

slash or harvesting residue burning

scarification

enhancement planting or supplementary planting

fertilisation

thinning

pruning

waste thinning and non-commercial thinning

commercial thinning

harvesting

gapping

follow organisational policies and procedures relevant to implementing and monitoring sustainable silvicultural principles

monitor and maintain sustainable silvicultural activities

identify and report non-compliant work practices

complete relevant workplace reports.

A person competent in this unit must be able to demonstrate knowledge of:

principles, policies, procedures and requirements relevant to silviculture operation including the following:

environment protection and biodiversity conservation

silviculture codes and guidelines

ecological sustainability

environmental planning and assessment

threatened species conservation

critical habitat register

native vegetation

federal, state or territory forestry legislation and local government regulations

native forest legislation

specific site environmental management plans

relevant codes of practice, including Safe Work Australia code of practice ‘Managing Risks in Forest Operations’

water catchment management

surface and ground water conservation requirements

relevant Australian and industry standards

hazard reduction policy and procedures

reforestation codes

fisheries and fish passage

National Parks and Wildlife legislation

good neighbour policies

duty of care

heritage and traditional landowner requirements

environmental protection requirements and minimal impact strategies to support the implementation of silviculture practices

growth habits of specific species under soil and environmental conditions

regeneration requirements of plant species being managed

soil conservation and erosion mitigation techniques and their advantages and disadvantages for specific sites and habitats

the conditions that can alter or change and therefore require different silvicultural practices to protect the environment, including

recently declared or potentially rare and endangered species identified

unexpected lora or fauna encountered

new or potential habitat

ecology or ecosystem changes

undergrowth and ground cover

canopy

environmental features

operational conditions

ground conditions

weather conditions

wind

dust

smoke

fire

cultural sensitivity

forest type

land tenure

quality of roads and tracks

effective communication procedures and protocols

procedures for recording and reporting workplace activity.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions.

1. Prepare for silvicultural work

1.1 Identify and review information on regulatory requirements for sustainable forest operations for various forest types.

1.2 Identify and interpret key principles and requirements that inform sustainable silvicultural methods and techniques.

1.3 Identify target species in line with approved forest operational plan and organisational procedures.

1.4 Review work order and identify and clarify sustainable forest requirements.

2. Assess forest condition

2.1 Select and use appropriate techniques and tools to measure tree and stand height.

2.2 Calculate basal area and assess tree dominance and crown vigour using an approved industry process.

2.3 Determine and record standing tree defects.

2.4 Identify and mark merchantable trees in line with organisational procedures.

3. Implement silvicultural practices

3.1 Calculate and apply tree retention and stocking criteria according to operational plan.

3.2 Select appropriate silvicultural methods and techniques to meet environmental and production requirements.

3.3 Identify situations requiring specialist advice and seek assistance.

4. Monitor work practices

4.1 Monitor and maintain sustainable forest practices.

4.2 Monitor and adjust work practices to meet changing conditions.

4.3 Identify and report non-compliant work practices to appropriate personnel.

4.4 Identify improved work practices and recommend improvements to sivicultural operations.

5. Maintain records

5.1 Revise and update forest operational plan and organisational procedures as required.

5.2 Record and report silvicultural activities to appropriate personnel.

Not Applicable
Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Identify and review information on regulatory requirements for sustainable forest operations for various forest types. 
Identify and interpret key principles and requirements that inform sustainable silvicultural methods and techniques. 
Identify target species in line with approved forest operational plan and organisational procedures. 
Review work order and identify and clarify sustainable forest requirements. 
Select and use appropriate techniques and tools to measure tree and stand height. 
Calculate basal area and assess tree dominance and crown vigour using an approved industry process. 
Determine and record standing tree defects. 
Identify and mark merchantable trees in line with organisational procedures. 
Calculate and apply tree retention and stocking criteria according to operational plan. 
Select appropriate silvicultural methods and techniques to meet environmental and production requirements. 
Identify situations requiring specialist advice and seek assistance. 
Monitor and maintain sustainable forest practices. 
Monitor and adjust work practices to meet changing conditions. 
Identify and report non-compliant work practices to appropriate personnel. 
Identify improved work practices and recommend improvements to sivicultural operations. 
Revise and update forest operational plan and organisational procedures as required. 
Record and report silvicultural activities to appropriate personnel. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

FWPCOT3255 - Apply silvicultural principles
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

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Assessment Record Sheet

FWPCOT3255 - Apply silvicultural principles

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

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Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

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