PEST MONITORING Design a possum population monitoring programme

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1 1 of 5 level: 5 credit: 10 planned review date: November 2007 sub-field: purpose: Pest Management This unit standard is for people involved with designing possum population monitoring s for rural environments. People credited with this unit standard are able to, for a possum population monitoring : determine client requirements and stratification; describe the reasons for stratification and default strata, map and measure the management area and strata; identify and measure the possum habitat area for each stratum; determine number of trap-lines and contingency lines for unstratified management area or each stratum, number of traps per line, and starting points; and prepare a field plan. entry information: accreditation option: moderation option: Recommended Unit 22115, Prepare for a possum population monitoring operation, and carry out field work; and Unit 22116, Describe possum population monitoring using residual trap-catch (RTC) index methodology; or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills. Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA, industry and teaching professional in the same field from another provider. A centrally established and directed moderation system has been set up by the Primary Industry Training Organisation. special notes: 1 Legislation relevant to this unit standard includes but is not limited to the: Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, Conservation Act 1987, Biosecurity Act 1993, Local Government Act 1974, National Parks Act 1980, Reserves Act 1977, Resource Management Act 1991, Animal Welfare Act 1999, Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, Wildlife Act 1953, and Wild Animal Control Act Reference

2 2 of 5 National Possum Control Agencies, Possum population monitoring: using the trap-catch method: protocol. (Wellington: 2004). ISBN , (referred to as the protocol ). The protocol is the nationally accepted standard for possum population monitoring using the trap-catch method. 3 Definition Contract the monitoring contract that the monitoring contractor is engaged under. The contract will specify a range of requirements that have been agreed between the monitoring contractor and the principal or client. The principal or client may be a local authority, government department, or a private organisation. Elements and Performance Criteria element 1 Determine client requirements for possum population monitoring and stratification. 1.1 Consultation with client determines management area to be monitored on a topographical map with minimum resolution 1:50, Consultation with client determines exclusion areas. includes but is not limited to waahi tapu, inaccessible areas, areas with personal safety issues, presence of walking tracks, built up zones. 1.3 Consultation with client determines management information. progress payment areas, stratification, residual trap-catch (RTC) index or percentage kill. 1.4 Consultation with client determines requirements of buffer zones in response to risk of reinvasion.

3 3 of Consultation with client determines whether circumstances require additional precision and accuracy. precision by use of additional lines, traps per line, nights per line; circumstances Tb disease risk. 1.6 Consultation with client determines requirements for raised trap sets in response to presence of ground birds. 1.7 Consultation with client determines timing of monitoring. reinvasion, contract requirement, availability of access. element 2 Describe the reasons for stratification and default strata, map and measure the management area and strata for possum population monitoring. 2.1 The reasons for stratification, and default strata are described in relation to designing possum population monitoring s. 2.2 The management area and strata are mapped on a topographical map with minimum resolution 1:50, The total management area and individual stratum area are calculated. element 3 Identify and measure the possum habitat area for each stratum. 3.1 Tools for identifying and measuring possum habitats are described in terms of their availability, limitations, and suitability for identification of specified habitats. aerial photograph scale 1:25,000, ground based reconnaissance and mapping, ECOSAT (satellite imagery), Land Cover Database (LCDB), topographical map with minimum resolution 1:50, The total actual possum habitat area is mapped for each stratum, and its total area of habitat calculated.

4 4 of 5 may include but is not limited to forest; forest/pasture margin - length and area equivalent; farmland stratum; riparian corridor habitat. 3.2 The expected possum habitat area is estimated for farmland stratum. estimate for greater than 16 hectares, less than 16 hectares; using one of LCDB, ECOSTAT, aerial photograph. element 4 Determine number of trap-lines and contingency lines for unstratified management area or each stratum, number of traps per line, and starting points. 4.1 Number of trap-lines, and traps per line for identified possum habitat is calculated for unstratified management area or each stratum in accordance with the protocol, and contract requirements. smaller than 500 ha, 500 ha or larger, ground control applied, aerial control applied, forest pasture margins, forest, farmland. 4.2 Contingency trap-lines are identified for unstratified management area or each stratum. 4.3 Random starting points for trap-lines are selected and mapped in accordance with stratum type, the protocol, and contract requirements. stratum forest, forest/pasture margin, farmland. 4.4 Trap-lines are determined and mapped from each random starting point in accordance with stratum type, the protocol, and contract requirements. stratum forest, forest/pasture margin, farmland; estimated habitat, accurately mapped habitat. element 5 Prepare a possum population monitoring field plan.

5 5 of The field plan identifies trap-line and contingency line details in accordance with the protocol, and contract requirements. stratum, start points, paths, direction, New Zealand Map Grid (NZMG) coordinates, number of traps, number of nights trapping, set type, start time, finish time. 5.2 The field plan identifies information relating to the area, and property where relevant, for the possum monitoring operation, and is in accordance with contract requirements. may include property boundaries, aerial photos of the area, property occupier details, access to start points, health and safety requirements, hazards, results reporting. Comments on this unit standard Please contact Primary Industry Training Organisation standards@primaryito.ac.nz if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard. Please Note Providers must be accredited by the Qualifications Authority or a delegated interinstitutional body before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment. Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by the Qualifications Authority before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards. Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards. Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for providers wishing to develop education and training s, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements. This unit standard is covered by AMAP 0052 which can be accessed at