Many alarming world trends, including climate change, is threatening our wildlife more than ever. These animals need knowledgeable, compassionate humans to help! This course suits those with a general interest in wildlife conservation or those looking for a career in academia, consulting companies, wildlife and conservation organisations, professional and scientific societies or even in zoos and aquariums.
The Certificate of Wildlife Conservation is an online professional development program that will give you a broad knowledge base of the strategies involved in wildlife conservation and how research, surveys and management techniques can assist with its preservation.
In this wildlife conservation course, you will explore important concepts like ecology and biological diversity, farming and urban planning, revegetation and restoration, the recovery of threatened species, and the different types of habitats including woodlands, tundras, forests and mangrove habitats.
You will also study varying approaches to wildlife conservation including the species, landscape and ecosystem approaches, and how to undertake vegetation, fauna and marine conservation surveys.
On completion of this course, you will satisfy your passion for wildlife and leverage positive changes for the future of our planet and its fauna.
Course Structure
Unit: Wildlife Conservation
Unit 1 – Introduction to Wildlife conservation
- What is wildlife conservation?
- The need for wildlife conservation
- Important concepts
- Threatening processes (Ecology, Ecosystem and Biome)
- Conservation Values
- Biological diversity
- Biodiversity indicators
- Genetic drift
- Habitat and life span
- Wildlife Management
- Habitat fragmentation
- Habitat degradation and loss
- Types of soil degradation
- Types of Erosion
- Pollution
- Land pollution
- Air pollution
- Water pollution
- Marine degradation
- Unsustainable harvesting/hunting
- Invasive species
- Climate change
- Population isolation/conservation genetics
- Disease
- Extinction and Disease
- Density and Disease
- Impacts of Disease Control Measures
- Terminology
Unit 2 – Recovery of threatened species
- Loss of species categories of risk
- Species vulnerability to endangerment
- Rarity
- Ability to Disperse
- Degree of Specialisation
- Population Variability
- Population Variability
- Life Span
- Reproductive Rate
- Recovery of species
- Threat management
- Habitat conservation
- Critical habitat and protecting habitat
- Research population growth
- Habitat use
- Conservation genetics
- Captive breeding
- Translocation
- Public involvement
- Terminology
Unit 3 – Habitat conservation
- Habitat
- Types of Habitat
- Temperate and tropical forests, woodland, tundra and mangrove habitats
- Habitat use
- Species richness
- Habitat fragmentation
- Creating habitats
- Restoration ecology
- Creating habitat corridors, situating corridors and edge effects
- Rehabilitation
- Implementing a land rehabilitation management program
- Determining land objectives, determining a program
- The role of GIS in conservation
- The role of protected areas
- Levels of protection
- Approaches to reserve selection
Unit 4 – Approaches to conservation of threatened wildlife
- Species approach
- Demographic modelling
- Effective population size, small populations
- Population viability analysis (PVA)
- Spatial distribution of populations within a landscape
- Landscape Modelling
- Ecosystem approach
- Ecosystem management
- Adaptive management
- Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management
Unit 5 – Vegetation (Flora) surveys
- Plant Identification (names and scientific names)
- Levels of division
- Botanical keys
- List of plant groups
- Vegetation/flora surveying
- Flora survey techniques
- Line surveys
- Belt transect
- Vegetation mapping
- Quadrat surveys
- Remote sensing data.
- Landsat
Unit 6 – Fauna surveys
- Observation techniques
- Types of surveys / census techniques
- Total counts and sampling
- Direct methods of surveying wildlife
- Aerial surveys
- Transects
- Mark-recapture
- Indirect methods of surveying wildlife
- Roadside and call counts
- Scat analysis
- Hair tube analysis
- Nest boxes
- Sand pads/trays
- Spotlighting
- Mapping
- Sampling methods specific to animal populations
- Distance sampling
- Random vs non-random sampling
- Species identification
Unit 7 – Marine conservation
- Coral bleaching
- Overfishing
- Commercial fish stock management
- Stock identity and assessment
- Stock biomass
- Stock management methods
- Marine surveys
- Capture and mixed methods
- Non-capture methods
- Non-lethal whale research techniques
- Acoustic research methods
- Molecular methods
- Genetics and satellite tagging
Unit 8 – Planning for wildlife
- Farm planning
- Planning farm activities
- Off property effects
- Biological and climactic considerations
- Socioeconomic options
- Examples of information to be collected & analysed
- Examples of decisions which might need to be made
- Urban planning
- Aspects of urban management
- Urban planning for wildlife
Unit 9 – Management
- Managing threatened wildlife populations
- Recovering threatened species
- Manipulating populations
- Reintroducing species
- Removal of Predators/Competitors
- Captive Breeding
- Manipulating habitat
- Revegetation/restoration
- Exclusion fencing for threatened species
- Creating corridors
- Designing and planting a fire break
Unit 10 – Wildlife conservation project
Study Hours
Estimated duration 50 hours
Course Delivery and Start
Start anytime, self-paced and 100% online
Assessment
Assessment will be comprised of written exercises, including short-answer questions, reflective tasks, short reports and/or projects. There are no examinations or due dates for assessment. As a result, you can complete training in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.
Testimonials
The Wildlife Conservation course was thorough and covered a broad range of subjects ideal for professional development and filling in knowledge gaps in the industry. I felt supported by the tutors and enjoyed the course and highly value the content and how it will or has contributed to my career.
I, Ferwerda, Rowville VIC | Certificate of Wildlife Conservation
I was able to travel around Australia and complete my online study, it was very informative and I learnt more as I travelled around.
Tia I QLD I Certificate of Wildlife Conservation
Graduation
A Certificate of Attainment and Statement of Results will be issued upon successful completion of this course.
How to Enrol
Enrol Online: Click Add to Cart/View Cart on the course page.
Enrol via Live Chat (Business Hours)
Enrol via Telephone 1300 76 2221 (Business Hours)
Enrol via Purchase Order/Tax Invoice
Enrolling Multiple Staff?
To enrol multiple staff, please complete the Employer Enrolment Form. We’ll be in touch within 60 minutes during business hours!
Payment Options
Visa, Mastercard, BPAY and Direct Deposit.
Course FAQs
Why Choose Australian Online Courses?
- Professional development that is widely recognised and respected;
- Improve your employment opportunities;
- Study online, anywhere via our elearning system;
- High-quality professional development programs written by industry experts;
- All course materials provided online – no textbooks to buy;
- Unlimited tutor support via email;
- We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply);
- Course may be tax deductible; see your tax advisor.
Are there any entry requirements or pre-requisites?
There are no course or subject pre-requisites for entry into our programs. However, our professional development programs are generally intended for people over the age of 18. In some circumstances, enrolments from younger people may be considered. Please complete the AOC Parent Guardian Consent Form prior to enrolling and submit here.
When can I start this course?
You can start within 60 minutes during business hours when you enrol and pay in full with a credit card!
Credit card: Within 60 mins during business hours.
BPAY: Within 1-2 working days.
Internet Banking: Within 1-2 working days.
Cheque/Money Order: Upon receipt of mailed cheque.
How is this course delivered?
This course is delivered online via our easy-to-navigate Learning Management System (LMS), where you will discover interactive online learning/written content, resources and assessment.
Do I need to attend classes or undertake any work placements?
No. All courses are delivered online via our LMS and there are no work placement requirements in this course.
What support can I expect from Australian Online Courses?
Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email only during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.
I am an international student. Can I enrol into this course?
Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.
Career Pathways
Future growth
Strong
Unemployment
Low
Professional Development for:
- Wildlife Rescue Officers
- Animal Protection Officers
- Parks Management Officers
- Animal Relocations Specialists
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