Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to research urban forest performance.
This unit applies to individuals with broad and coherent theoretical and technical knowledge with depth in one or more disciplines or areas of practice and cognitive, technical and communication skills to demonstrate autonomy, well developed judgement and responsibility in undertaking complex self-directed work and learning to provide specialist advice and functions.
The role involves the self-directed application of specialised knowledge in arboriculture with substantial depth in areas of urban forestry and climate change.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Element | Performance criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Research urban forest processes | 1.1 Research and define elemental components of urban forests 1.2 Research role of urban forests as a primary component of urban ecosystems 1.3 Research threats to and resilience of urban forests in cities 1.4 Research regulation of hydrological processes, retention of precipitation, mitigation of salinity and effects of trees on water quality 1.5 Research relationship of soil biological network, soil chemistry, soil structure and trees to soil structure stabilisation and erosion potential 1.6 Determine contribution of trees towards rhizosphere biodiversity, bioremediation and soil health |
2. Evaluate benefits of urban forests | 2.1 Research energy conservation and micro-climate modification systems of trees and urban forests 2.2 Research heat island analyses of an urban area 2.3 Evaluate health, social and psychological benefits of urban forests 2.4 Document evidence-based research into a preliminary report on benefits of urban forests |
3. Analyse methods and document report | 3.1 Research current methods and technologies for spatial mapping of urban forests 3.2 Analyse process of carbon sequestration in urban forests 3.3 Analyse methods for sampling urban forests 3.4 Evaluate urban forest valuation methodologies 3.5 Document a preliminary report on methods of valuation of an urban forest |
4. Examine climate change mitigation | 4.1 Research contribution of urban forest to carbon cycles 4.2 Determine local climate, soil factors and management factors affecting forest growth and sequestration 4.3 Research contribution of forest carbon sequestration to mitigation of climate change 4.4 Document an evaluation of forest mitigation on climate change |
5. Compile and document reports | 5.1 Document a report on the social, environmental, economic and climatic values of urban forests 5.2 Determine challenges of increased urbanisation and urban densification on urban forests 5.3 Determine potential benefit of urban forest to mitigate climate change 5.4 Compile preliminary reports and document a report describing multi-disciplinary solutions to challenges of urbanisation on urban forests |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.
The candidate must provide evidence for and demonstrate:
researching and define elemental components of urban forests
researching role of urban forests as a primary component of urban ecosystems
researching threats to and resilience of urban forests in cities
researching regulation of hydrological processes, retention of precipitation, mitigation of salinity, and effects of trees on water quality
researching relationship of soil biological network, soil chemistry, soil structure and trees to soil structure stabilisation and erosion potential
determining contribution of trees towards rhizosphere biodiversity, bioremediation and soil health
researching energy conservation and micro-climate modification systems of trees and urban forests
researching heat island analyses of an urban area
evaluating health, social and psychological benefits of urban forests
documenting evidence-based research into a preliminary report on benefits of urban forests
researching current methods and technologies for spatial mapping of urban forests
analysing process of carbon sequestration in urban forests
analysing methods for sampling urban forests
evaluating urban forest valuation methodologies
documenting a preliminary report on valuation of an urban forest
researching contribution of urban forest to carbon cycles
determining local climate, soil factors and management factors affecting forest growth and sequestration
researching contribution of forest carbon sequestration to mitigation of climate change
documenting an evaluation of forest mitigation on climate change
documenting a report on the social, environmental, economic and climatic values of urban forests
determining challenges of increased urbanisation and urban densification on urban forests
determining potential benefit of urban forest to mitigate climate change
compiling preliminary reports and documenting a report describing multi-disciplinary solutions to challenges of urbanisation on urban forests.
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
elemental components of urban forests
role of urban forests as a primary component of urban ecosystems
threats to and resilience of urban forests in cities
regulation of hydrological processes, retention of precipitation, mitigation of salinity, and effects of trees on water quality
relationship of soil biological network, soil chemistry, soil structure and trees to soil structure stabilisation and erosion potential
contribution of trees towards rhizosphere biodiversity, bioremediation and soil health
energy conservation and micro-climate modification systems of trees and urban forests
heat island analyses of an urban area
health, social and psychological benefits of urban forests
current methods and technologies for spatial mapping of urban forests
process of carbon sequestration in urban forests
methods for sampling urban forests
urban forest valuation methodologies
contribution of urban forest to carbon cycles
local climate, soil factors and management factors affecting forest growth and sequestration
contribution of forest carbon sequestration to mitigation of climate change
evaluation of forest mitigation on climate change
social, environmental, economic and climatic values of urban forests
challenges of increased urbanisation and urban densification on urban forests
potential benefit of urban forest to mitigate climate change
multi-disciplinary solutions to challenges of urbanisation on urban forests.
Assessment Conditions
Assessment must be demonstrated consistently over time in a suitable range of contexts and have a productivity-based outcome. No single assessment event or report is sufficient to achieve competency in this unit.
Assessment may be conducted in a simulated or real work environment, however determination of competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions.
The mandatory equipment and materials used to gather evidence for assessment include:
equipment:
computer
word processing software
statistical software
internet connection
measurement and data collection tools
materials:
urban forest report
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs in the assessment of arboriculture units of competency.
Assessment must be conducted only by persons who have:
urban forestry vocational competencies at least to the level being assessed
current urban forestry skills directly relevant to the unit of competency being assessed
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
Sectors
Arboriculture (ARB)