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Monitor game populations and habitats

URN: LANGa8
Business Sectors (Suites): Game and Wildlife Management
Developed by: Lantra
Approved on: 2022

Overview

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This standard is about monitoring game populations and habitats in a wildlife management area. It relates to the work activities that you undertake to monitor game and its habitat.

This standard is for those who work in game conservation and can be applied to any wildlife management area.

To meet this standard you will be able to:
• make assessments of game populations using a variety of methods 
• monitor and make assessments of the ability of the game habitat to support game 

When carrying out your work you must consider the impact it will have on the environment, and work towards preserving and improving habitats and biodiversity, and responding to and mitigating the effects of climate change.

For you to fully understand the content of the standard, and the activities it describes, it is important that you are able to understand the terms used within the standard. See the Glossary for some definitions that should help you with this.

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

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  1. carry out the activity safely, in line with the relevant health and safety requirements
  2. use a variety of methods to observe game and other wildlife species to monitor the characteristics of game populations
  3. identify and use signs to establish game population characteristics, including signs of pest and predator activity
  4. monitor the behaviour and condition of game populations and recognise the signs that indicate ill health in game
  5. collect information on the condition of game habitats
  6. recognise good game habitats and those that require improvement
  7. recognise poor and damaged game habitats and determine the likely causes
  8. carry out monitoring activities in a manner that minimises disturbance to game, wildlife and habitats at all times
  9. record and report findings in accordance with organisation requirements, including signs of ill health and predator activity and the need for habitat maintenance and improvement

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

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  1. the relevant health and safety requirements associated with monitoring activities, including lone working
  2. the methods that can be used to monitor different wild game populations, including pest and predator activity
  3. how to identify game and wildlife species common to the wildlife management area, including their sex and age
  4. the expected variations in the populations of the game during the annual cycle
  5. how seasonal changes can affect game populations and habitats
  6. how the characteristics of the wildlife management area can affect game populations
  7. how to recognise the normal behaviour and condition of game populations and the signs that indicate ill health in game
  8. the identity of the common habitat species found in the wildlife management area
  9. the characteristics of good game habitat and how habitat can control the presence of different game species on an area of land
  10. how to recognise habitat damage and the likely causes of damage
  11. the management activities used to maintain and improve game habitat
  12. the actions that can be taken to preserve and improve habitats and biodiversity, and respond to and mitigate the effects of climate change.
  13. why it is important to minimise disturbances to game, wildlife and habitats while monitoring them
  14. the importance of maintaining records of the game population and the condition of the habitat

Scope/range

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Establish four of the following population characteristics for game and  wildlife:
• species
• numbers
• health
• sex
• age
• location
• behaviour
• disturbance
• seasonality

Collect information on habitat in terms of three of the following:
• common plant species
• type of habitat
• interaction with game
• seasonal changes
• condition of habitat relevant to the season

Scope Performance

Scope Knowledge

Values

Behaviours

Skills

Glossary

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Game – any legal quarry species in the nation in which the shoot takes place. The legal restrictions for shooting game differs in each of the four UK nations and should be checked with the relevant national authority.

National authority controlling shooting activities:
• England – DEFRA
• Northern Ireland – NI Environment Agency
• Scotland – NatureScot
• Wales – Natural Resources Wales

Wildlife management area – Any area of land used for the provision of game-shooting activities

Area characteristics – For example: topography, land usage, other activities, land type, drainage

Links To Other NOS

External Links

Version Number

3

Indicative Review Date

2027

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Lantra

Original URN

LANGa8

Relevant Occupations

Estate Worker, Gamekeeper

SOC Code

5119

Keywords

game; habitat; monitor