Implement and monitor a game and wildlife management plan

URN: LANGWM4
Business Sectors (Suites): Game and Wildlife Management
Developed by: Lantra
Approved on: 2022

Overview


This standard outlines the competencies required by individuals who are responsible for implementing and monitoring a game and wildlife management plan for a wildlife management area. It has been developed so that it can be applied to a variety of situations. 

Wildlife management can be described as targeted intervention to change the population, structure or distribution of wild species. It can include their conservation, re-introduction or translocation, safeguarding their health and wellbeing or culling them to manage their numbers and their effect on habitats or other species.

This standard is for those who work in game and wildlife conservation and who are responsible for implementing and monitoring the success of a game and wildlife management plan.

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


Performance criteria

You must be able to:


  1. monitor and maintain activities to ensure the effective implementation of the game and wildlife management plan 
  2. manage the allocation of resources to achieve the objectives of the game and wildlife management plan
  3. confirm that working methods maintain health and safety and are consistent with the relevant legislation, codes of practice and organisational requirements
  4. confirm that the implementation of the game and wildlife management plan maintains animal welfare and bio-security at all times 
  5. take action to preserve and improve habitat and biodiversity and respond to and mitigate the effects of climate change
  6. implement and monitor the game and wildlife management plan according to the relevant legislation, national policies, codes of practice, sector guidance and organisational requirements
  7. confirm that planned interventions are implemented to achieve the objectives of the game and wildlife management plan
  8. respond to emergency situations as necessary
  9. seek professional advice when constraints or emergencies fall outside your own area of expertise
  10. collect and analyse data to determine progress against planned objectives  
  11. obtain and review feedback from those involved in implementing the game and wildlife management plan 
  12. make adjustments to the game and wildlife management plan based on feedback obtained and also when constraints impact on the plan’s effectiveness 
  13. confirm that accurate records are maintained in support of the implementation of the game and wildlife management plan


Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:


  1. the techniques used to assess game population characteristics 
  2. how to maintain the health and welfare of game species relevant to the game and wildlife management plan
  3. the diseases associated with the relevant game species, including being able to recognise diseases and know what action to take
  4. the relevant legal requirements that regulate animal welfare, bio-security, disease control and pest control
  5. the resources required to support the implementation of the game and wildlife management plan, including people, equipment, finance
  6. the constraints and emergencies that can impact on the effectiveness and efficiency of the game and wildlife management plan, for example, business objectives, political pressures, disease, legislation, resource or equipment issues
  7. the suitable data recording and analysis techniques used to monitor the effectiveness of the game and wildlife management plan, including both qualitative and quantitative techniques
  8. the national and local regulations and codes of practice that control game and wildlife management relating to access to the countryside, wildlife and wild-game management
  9. the activities required to monitor and maintain the effective implementation of the game and wildlife management plan
  10. how game management can influence wildlife species
  11. how game behaviour can be influenced by the use of different interventions such as habitat monitoring and management, game and wildlife population monitoring, pest and predator control, measures to maintain the welfare of game and measures to improve the health of game
  12. how game management activities interact with other wildlife management area activities and users, and how to manage or influence these interactions in a positive way
  13. the actions that can be taken to preserve and improve habitat and biodiversity and respond to and mitigate the effects of climate change
  14. the role of the relevant legislation, national policies, codes of practice, sector guidance and organisational requirements that support game and wildlife management 


Scope/range


Scope Performance


Scope Knowledge


Values


Behaviours


Skills


Glossary


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.

Influences that impact on the management of game and wildlife
e.g. physical environment, habitat, wildlife, pest and predator interactions, game welfare and nutrition, game diseases, other land usage, conflicts of interest, political pressures, legislation

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

Pest control
pesticides
rodenticides
traps and snares
shooting

Sector guidance could include:
The Code of Good Shooting Practice
Deer Initiative Best Practice Guides 
Scottish Wild Deer Best Practice Guides

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


Links To Other NOS


External Links


Version Number

3

Indicative Review Date

2027

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Lantra

Original URN

LANGWM4

Relevant Occupations

Estates Manager, Game and Wildlife Manager

SOC Code

5119

Keywords

game; wildlife; management; planning