Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to create and maintain habitat refuges in trees involving the installation of nesting boxes and the use of pruning techniques for habitat hollow and cavity creation in trees. It also involves the retention and positioning of materials from tree works for ground level habitat and refuges.
The unit applies to individuals who work in arboriculture under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work. They use discretion and judgement in the selection, allocation and use of available resources and for solving problems.
The arboriculture industry requires that all arboriculture work to create and maintain habitat refuges is undertaken according to preferred industry practices (as outlined in the Companion Volume).
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements are to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements | Performance Criteria |
1. Prepare site and inspect equipment | 1.1 Interpret and confirm target area work instruction with supervisor 1.2 Select, check and use personal protective equipment 1.3 Conduct pre-operational preparations and safety checks, on ropes, harnesses, tools and equipment 1.4 Undertake a site-specific job safety analysis (JSA), record and implement control measures according to workplace safety procedures |
2. Retain and stabilise trees and standing vegetation for wood habitat | 2.1 Identify vegetation with existing viable hollows 2.2 Plan retention of standing vegetation with viable hollows and defects 2.3 Identify environmental pruning points to accommodate retention or formation of hollows 2.4 Determine length of limb to be retained according to weight, size and natural fracture points 2.5 Identify and retain branch stubs and residual epicormic growth on lower limb sections 2.6 Implement pruning cuts to tension side of wood to weaken branch at desired point for fracture pruning 2.7 Apply physical force to create natural fracture and breakage of branch at desired point 2.8 Undertake coronet cutting using equipment that minimises contaminants on cut surface 2.9 Use materials and equipment to protect the environment from residues according to workplace and environmental procedures |
3. Implement vegetation management techniques to create habitat | 3.1 Identify and select vegetation suitable for habitat creation work 3.2 Apply natural fracture pruning techniques consistent with natural branch failure 3.3 Implement coronet cuts on branches or stub according to specifications 3.4 Fracture prune from ground or aerially and remove excess branches safely at a natural breakage point, leaving stub to specified length according to job requirements 3.5 Prepare habitat hollows with an angled faceplate to prevent ingress of water 3.6 Remove internal wood from hollows and install faceplate and entrance holes according to job requirements 3.7 Install ground refuges using dimensions and materials specific to fauna habitat requirements 3.8 Install nesting boxes to height and dimensions for target fauna species 3.9 Remove unsafe habitat features for reinstallation into tree canopy 3.10 Select, retain and position tree materials, from tree works, suitable for ground habitat, burrows and refuges |
4. Clean worksite and store equipment | 4.1 Inspect, clean, maintain and store equipment according to manufacturer instructions and workplace procedures 4.2 Collect and dispose of waste materials according to industry, workplace and environmental procedures and practices 4.3 Clean and restore site to condition according to workplace procedures and instructions |
Evidence of Performance
An individual demonstrating competency must satisfy all of the elements and performance criteria in this unit.
There must be evidence that the individual has managed vegetation to create and maintain habitat refuges in at least one tree not less than six metres tall with a stem diameter of at least 20cm at four metres above the ground, including:
complied with all safety requirements including:
completed job safety analysis
used personal protective equipment
conducted pre-operational preparation and checks on ropes, harnesses, tools and equipment
identified and implemented measures to prevent tree and environmental health issues including:
cleaned and sanitised chainsaws and equipment
cleaned up waste and used materials and equipment to protect the environment from residues
accessed tree for habitat and hollow activities and fracture pruning either:
a mobile elevated work platform (MEWP)
or arborist climbing techniques
selected vegetation and created habitats and hollows in trees including:
retained viable hollows and defects
used fracture pruning applying force using within the tree or hook poles or ropes from the ground
identified suitable points to retain or create new hollows
retained branch stubs and epicormic growth on tree limbs
used pruning techniques for habitat creation on branches with a diameter of no less than 20cm, including:
natural fractures
coronet cuts
pruned and removed excess branches
ensured overhang is retained to prevent water ingress
prepared at least three habitat hollows or cavities in trees at least four metres above the ground with a tree diameter of no less than 20cm, including:
angled faceplate to prevent water ingress
removed internal wood
installed or repaired faceplate and entrance hole no closer than 30cm to branch bark ridge
installed faceplate through side or rear wall of cavity or through faceplate of sufficient thickness
prepared artificial habitat hollow to meet specified dimensions of target fauna for size of hollow, height, and entrance
removed an unsafe hollow branch and reinstalled back into a tree with same orientation and attitude
removed a branch containing a cavity and reinstalled and fixed cavity branch back into tree or another tree with same orientation and attitude
installed the following types of nesting boxes:
two boxes using natural materials
two boxes using artificially constructed structures
retained materials from tree works for ground habitat, refuges or burrows and restored the site.
All arboriculture work to create and maintain habitat refuges is required to be performed according to preferred industry practices (as outlined in the Companion Volume).
Evidence of Knowledge
An individual must be able to demonstrate the knowledge required to perform the tasks outlined in the elements and performance criteria of this unit. This includes knowledge of:
preferred industry practices (as outlined in the Companion Volume) for arboriculture work to create and maintain habitat refuges
importance and impact of living and dead vegetation in the environment, including:
habitat and refuges
public safety and environmental hazard and removal
risk management
common vegetation features providing an ecological habitat, including:
stubs, snags, tears and scars
fungi
dead wood volumes
hollows, cavities and small holes
animal/insect damage and food
defective branch union
bird damage
extent and quality of fungus rot and colonising organisms
tree response to infection and compartmentalisation of decay in trees (CODIT), including biosecurity and infection controls
conservation values of a dead wood habitat and a live wood habitat
removal or reduction of dead wood or living wood to prevent breakage, including:
natural fracture pruning from the ground using hook poles or ropes
natural fracture pruning aerially by applying direct force with hand or foot
coronet cutting
retention of materials suitable for positioning in the landscape for ground burrows, habitat and refuges
leaving and rendering safe root plate of fallen trees for animal burrows, habitat and refuges
different types of ground level refuges, including:
vegetation
soil
artificial
the nature and role of habitat trees, including:
characteristics and essential components of plant and animal life cycles
features associated with ageing
value or potential value
hollows, cavities and roosting branches
removal and replacement of hollows or cavities
nesting box designs and installation, including:
animal and bird species and nesting box design
natural materials repurposed for nesting structures
artificially constructed structures, materials, design and installation
heritage or protected vegetation, environmental overlays and regulated vegetation, including:
historical and cultural aspects of vegetation
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island mortuary and sacred/cultural trees
pruning techniques for habitat development and possible consequence, including:
weakening branches to ensure pruning cut protrudes into the wood of not more than 30% of the diameter at the cut point
wood not weakened to break at the desired fracture point
cutting with a 15 degree opening on the compression side of the wood to allow the vegetation to fracture
use of ropes and pulleys to apply the sufficient force to assist the breakage
removal of excess branches and importance of leaving stub lengths of at least 20 cm
pruning techniques to allow colonisation points for beneficial fungi, invertebrates and small animals
pruning techniques for habitat hollow and cavity creation in vegetation for larger animals
importance of retaining and creating variations in dead wood habitat niches
natural fracture pruning techniques, including:
when to apply to branches <20 cm in diameter
fibre separation, along the grain and splintering
fibre separation in various planes, linear, radial and circumferential
natural fracture points
appropriate use of hand saws and equipment
approved chainsaw use and bar oil to avoid contamination of pruning cuts
relevant statutory and local authority requirements
personal protective equipment, including:
chaps or chainsaw pants
hand tools such as shovels, saws, drills, screwdrivers, hammers
ear protection
full face helmet/visor or safety glasses
harness and full body for MEWP or work position harness for tree climber
gloves
safety helmet
steel-cap boots
potential hazards when managing vegetation, including:
animal responses to interference
vegetation density
incorrect and unsafe pruning methods used by self and others
incorrect and unsafe approaches to staking severed trunks or limbs
power lines and utilities
unsafe tree climbing methods
unsafe use of MEWP
unstable ground for equipment
structural integrity and defects within vegetation that pose a threat to infrastructure, persons in and using the immediate area, and tree health, including:
broken branches
cankers
cracks
dead wood
decay/fungi
poor branch unions
poor vegetation architecture
root problems
torsional fractures
environmental and biodiversity values
when to use natural fracture pruning, coronet cutting and habitat hollow and cavity creation, including alternatives to felling trees to render them safe and retain dead wood habitat.
Assessment Conditions
Assessment of the skills in this unit of competency must take place under the following conditions:
physical conditions:
a site with a range of vegetation requiring natural fracture pruning, coronet cutting, and habitat and cavity creation stipulated in the performance evidence
an appropriate site where branch habitat hollows and cavities in branches can be created, nesting boxes can be constructed and installed, and burrows and ground level refuges can be created
resources, equipment and materials:
arborist climbing kit or MEWP for accessing trees
personal protection equipment
tools, equipment and materials for pruning, constructing and installing habitat, burrows and nesting boxes
specifications:
workplace policies, procedures, operations manuals and instructions related to pruning vegetation to manage habitat
biosecurity procedures for managing environmental contamination
regulations and codes of practice that relate to pruning vegetation to manage habitat
preferred industry practices (as outlined in the Companion Volume) for arboriculture work to create and maintain habitat refuges
plans, diagrams and specifications for installing nesting boxes
specification for fauna habitat
relationships:
supervisor.
Assessors of this unit must satisfy the requirements for assessors in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards. In particular, assessors must have:
arboriculture vocational competencies at least to the level being assessed
current arboriculture industry skills directly relevant to the unit of competency being assessed.
Foundation Skills
Skill | Description |
Reading | Interpret legislation, industry standards and manufacturer instructions |
Numeracy | Measure and calculate dimensions of materials for installation of habitat, hollows and nesting boxes |
Sectors
Arboriculture (ARB)