Sneak Peek
In many cases, land degradation is brought about by inappropriate land use focussed on short term gains without much thought to the long-term consequences.
The Land Degradation, Restoration and Management Short Course is a 20-hour self-guided course that will help you understand how to manage land sustainably and how to rehabilitate degraded areas.
This course consists of seven lessons covering the scope and nature of land management, land degradation and rehabilitation, managing soils, managing water, managing plants, managing animal populations, maintenance and natural regeneration.
This course covers the following lessons:
LESSON 1 SCOPE AND NATURE OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Causes of Land Degradation
Broad Principles of Sustainable Land Management
Harnessing the People
Careers in Land Management
Lesson 1 additional reading
Review what you have been learning
LESSON 2 LAND DEGRADATION & REHABILITATION
Forms of Land Degradation and Their Control
Land Rehabilitation Management
Mining Sites
Environmental Assessment
Land Management Programs
The Importance of Trees on Farms
Ecosystem Conservation
Lesson 2 additional reading
Review what you have been learning
LESSON 3 MANAGING SOILS
Soil Fertility
Physical and Chemical Factors Affecting Nutrient Availability
Biological Factors Affecting Soil Fertility
Improved Nutrient Management
Loss of Soil Fertility
Understanding Soil Analysis
Sampling Soil
Strategies for Tackling Soil Degradation
Conservation Tillage and Crop Residue Management
Soil Biological Management
Land Management Using Alternative Farming Techniques
Using Organic Principles to Overcome Soil Problems
Using Plants To Extract Contamination
Review what you have been learning
LESSON 4 MANAGING WATER
Water Erosion
Water Reuse And Recycling
Wastewater Treatment
Review what you have been learning
LESSON 5 MANAGING PLANTS
Controlling Plants
Using Plants For Erosion Control
Planning Rehabilitation
Plant Selection And Establishment
Plant Varieties
The Economics of Plant Selection
Planting Preparation - Soil Cultivation
Cultivation Machinery & Tools
Planting Techniques
Other Techniques
Soil And Water
Types of Water Wastage
Irrigation Systems
Coping With Dry Conditions
Plant Protection Methods
Weed Management
Crop Rotations
Review what you have been learning
LESSON 6 MANAGING ANIMAL POPULATIONS
Creating Habitat Corridors For Wildlife
Wildlife Conservation
Lesson 6 additional reading
Review what you have been learning
LESSON 7 AFTERWARDS
Plant Associations
Natural Regeneration
Review what you have been learning
Final Assessment
FINAL ASSESSMENT
How does this course work?
You can enrol at any time.
Once you have paid for the course, you will be able to start straight away.
Study when and where you like. Work through at your own pace.
You can download your study-guide to your smart phone, tablet or laptop to read offline.
There are automated self-assessment tests you can complete at the end
of each lesson. You can attempt these as many times as you wish and
each time, upon completion, you can see your results. You will need
internet access to complete the self assessment tests.
At the end of the course, you are presented with a large assessment
which can be attempted online, anywhere, anytime. If you achieve a 60%
pass in the exam; you immediately receive a downloadable certificate of
completion with your name on it.