Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to research an urban forest for its processes, benefits, values and impact on climate change, and produce a report on its performance.
The unit applies to individuals with advanced theoretical and technical knowledge and skills for professional or highly skilled work and/or further learning in one or more disciplines or areas of practice. This unit applies to individuals with advanced cognitive, technical and communication skills to provide specialist advice and analysis, and generate and transmit solutions to complex problems. They demonstrate autonomy, well-developed judgement, adaptability and responsibility as a practitioner or learner.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements are to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements | Performance Criteria |
1. Research urban forest processes | 1.1 Investigate and define elemental components of urban forests 1.2 Investigate role of urban forests as a primary component of urban ecosystems 1.3 Investigate threats to and resilience of urban forests in cities 1.4 Investigate effects of trees on hydrology and water quality 1.5 Investigate relationship of trees on soil environment 1.6 Determine contribution of trees towards rhizosphere biodiversity, bioremediation and soil health |
2. Evaluate benefits of urban forests | 2.1 Investigate energy conservation and microclimate 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 Compile investigations and research into a preliminary report on benefits of urban forests |
3. Analyse methods for urban forest valuation and prepare a report | 3.1 Investigate 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 Compile investigations and analysis into a preliminary report on methods for valuing an urban forest |
4. Evaluate climate change mitigation of urban forests | 4.1 Investigate contribution of urban forest to carbon cycles 4.2 Evaluate local climate, soil and management factors affecting forest growth and carbon sequestration 4.3 Investigate forest carbon sequestration to help mitigate climate change 4.4 Prepare a report evaluating the contribution of forest for mitigation of climate change |
5. Compile information and prepare a report on urban forest performance | 5.1 Prepare 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 and review reports and investigations 5.5 Prepare and present a final report on urban forest performance |
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 researched the performance of an urban forest, including:
investigated urban forest processes, including:
elemental components of urban forests
role of urban forests as a component of urban ecosystems
threats and resilience of urban forests
impact of urban forests on hydrology and water quality
relationship of trees on soil biota and chemistry
determined contribution of trees towards rhizosphere biodiversity, bioremediation and soil health
investigated energy conservation and microclimate modification systems of trees and urban forests
researched and analysed heat island effect of an urban area
evaluated health, social and psychological benefits of urban forests
prepared a preliminary report on benefits of urban forests
researched methods and technologies for spatial mapping of urban forests
analysed carbon sequestration process in urban forests
analysed methods for sampling urban forests
evaluated urban forest valuation methodologies
prepared a preliminary report on valuation of an urban forest
investigated contribution of urban forest to carbon cycles
determined local climate, soil and management factors affecting forest growth and carbon sequestration
investigated forest carbon sequestration to help mitigate climate change
prepared a report evaluating the contribution of forest for mitigation of climate change
prepared a report on social, environmental, economic and climatic values of urban forests
determined challenges of increased urbanisation and urban densification on urban forests
determined potential benefit of urban forest to help mitigate climate change
compiled reports and investigations and prepared a final report on urban forest performance, which must include multi-disciplinary solutions to challenges of urbanisation on urban forests.
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:
principles and impact of urban forest on our ecological and social environment, including:
elemental components of urban forests
role of urban forests as a primary component of urban ecosystems
urban forests in cities, their threats and resilience
trees and their impact on hydrology and water quality, including:
regulation of hydrological processes
retention of precipitation
mitigation of salinity
trees and their impact on soils, including:
relationship of soil biological network
soil chemistry and structure
soil stabilisation and erosion control
interactions of trees in their growing environment and urban setting, including:
contribution of trees towards rhizosphere biodiversity, bioremediation and soil health
energy conservation and microclimate modification systems of trees and urban forests
heat island analyses of an urban area
health, social and psychological benefits of urban forests
capturing, recording and assessing urban forest data and values, including:
methods and technologies of spatial mapping of urban forests
the carbon cycle, urban forests and carbon economics
methods for sampling urban forests
urban forest valuation methods
contribution of urban forest to carbon cycles and mitigation of climate change
influences of climate, soil and management strategies affecting forest growth and carbon sequestration
evaluation of urban forest and benefits to climate change
social, environmental, economic and climatic values of urban forests, including:
urbanisation and urban densification on urban forests development
solutions to challenges of urbanisation on urban forests.
Assessment Conditions
Assessment of the skills in this unit of competency must take place under the following conditions:
physical conditions:
urban forest and urban environment
resources, equipment and materials:
computer with word processing and statistical software
measurement and data collection tools
specifications:
standard procedures and quality standards for performing tests and conducting assessments
urban forest valuation methods and techniques.
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 complex texts, research reports and biological references for urban forests and urban climate to extract information relevant to urban forest performance |
Writing | Create complex technical reports that include appropriate conventions and stylistic devices to express precise meaning for target audience |
Numeracy | Perform complex analytical calculations for testing and evaluating carbon sequestration and energy conservation in urban forests |
Sectors
Arboriculture (ARB)