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Develop a game and wildlife habitat management plan

URN: LANGWM5
Business Sectors (Suites): Game and Wildlife Management
Developed by: Lantra
Approved on: 30 Mar 2022

Overview

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This standard outlines the competencies required by individuals who are responsible for developing a habitat management plan for a wildlife management area to support game populations. It has been developed so that it can be applied to any wildlife management area. 

This standard is for those who work in game and wildlife conservation and who are responsible for determining the habitat characteristics for a wildlife management area and establishing habitat management objectives.

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.

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. establish and implement procedures to support the accurate collection and analysis of habitat data and management information to support the development of a game and wildlife habitat management plan
  2. seek specialist advice when required
  3. analyse habitat data and management information to establish a baseline and determine measurable aims and objectives for habitat management, including plant species and their distribution, geography and topography of the area, interactions with wildlife, areas of damage and concern
  4. establish priorities for habitat management
  5. determine the resource requirements necessary to support the successful implementation of the habitat management plan
  6. assess the significance of the influences that may affect the management of habitat
  7. establish a range of interventions that may be used to confirm that the objectives of the habitat management plan have been achieved
  8. determine working methods that maintain health and safety and are consistent with the relevant legislation and codes of practice
  9. establish the procedures required to measure the influence of the habitat management plan
  10. confirm that the habitat management plan takes account of other wildlife management area activities and land designations and complies with the relevant legislation, national policies, codes of practice, sector guidance and organisational requirements
  11. consider the opinions of others, including those involved with or affected by the habitat management plan, as part of the overall development of the plan
  12. communicate the requirements of the habitat management plan to those involved in its implementation 

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

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  1. the value of a game and wildlife habitat management plan 
  2. the relationship between the habitat management plan and the overall objectives of the wildlife management area
  3. data collection and analysis techniques, including the use and interpretation of maps and other graphical data, published material, records and habitat impact assessments
  4. the types of habitat damage and damage assessment techniques
  5. where to obtain specialist advice
  6. the process of developing a habitat management plan, including establishing measurable aims and objectives covering the short- (1 – 2 months), medium- (12 months) and long-term (5 years)
  7. resource planning and utilisation, for example, of people, equipment and finance
  8. the known influences that impact on the management of habitat, such as habitat uses, the actions of pests and vermin, disease, land usage, human influences and national objectives
  9. the national and local regulations relating to access to the countryside, wildlife and habitat management
  10. how to recognise habitat species, and their distinguishing characteristics, that are relevant to the wildlife management area
  11. the principles of habitat management
  12. the ecology of the wildlife management area
  13. how habitat management can support game and wildlife populations
  14. the interaction between usage, the wildlife management area and biodiversity
  15. interventions that can be used to achieve habitat management objectives such as habitat creation, habitat maintenance, pest and vermin control, measures to improve the health of the habitat
  16. the actions that can be taken to preserve and improve habitat and biodiversity and respond to and mitigate the effects of climate change.
  17. the impact of species and land designations on land use
  18. the role of the relevant legislation, national policies, codes of practice, sector guidance and organisational requirements that support habitat management 

Scope/range

Scope Performance

Scope Knowledge

Values

Behaviours

Skills

Glossary

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Designations could include:
• National Park
• Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
• Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)
• Special Protection Areas (SPAs)
• RAMSAR
• Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
• World Heritage Site (WHS)
• Archaeological site
• National Trust
• Nitrogen Vulnerable Zone (NVZ)
• Drinking Water Safeguard Zones
• Scheduled Monuments (SMs)
• Listed Buildings (LBs)
• Registered Parks and Gardens (RPGs)
• Registered Battlefields (RBs) 
• Sites identified on the Historic Environment Record (HER).

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

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

30 Mar 2027

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Lantra

Original URN

LANGWM5

Relevant Occupations

Estates Manager, Game and Wildlife Manager

SOC Code

5119

Keywords

game; wildlife; management; planning; habitat