Contribute to the management of game habitat

This standard is about contributing to the management of game habitat in support of game-shooting activities. It can be applied to any game habitat on any area of land used for game shooting.

This standard is aimed at those who work in game conservation on either a full- or part-time basis, and can be applied to any wildlife management area.

To meet this standard you will be able to:

• contribute to the planning of game habitat management to support planned sporting activities
• monitor habitat and habitat usage
• maintain habitat in support of game and gameshooting activities.

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 Glossary for some definitions that should help you with this.

1. determine the requirements for the management of game habitat through the findings of a habitat impact assessment and the analysis of game needs and sporting activity requirements
2. identify how influences that may affect the management of game habitat apply in the wildlife management area
3. contribute to the development of a game habitat management plan in accordance with ongoing management regimes for the wildlife management area, and the requirements of relevant legislation
4. gain feedback on contributions to the game habitat management plan and agree the final plan with the shoot manager
5. assist with the implementation of the game habitat management activities to support game populations and to meet the objectives of the game habitat management plan
6. ensure work is carried out safely, in line with relevant health and safety requirements
7. contribute to the management of game habitat within known resource constraints
8. achieve planned game habitat management objectives to comply with relevant legislation and given codes of practice
9. evaluate game habitat management activities against planned objectives
10. deal with any influences that disrupt planned game habitat management to minimise their effect
11. maintain effective communication with those implementing game habitat management activities
12. maintain accurate records relating to game habitat management

1. the relevant wildlife and environmental legislation with regards to game habitat management
2. the habitat requirements of the game species found in the wildlife management area, and their interaction with natural flora and fauna
3. how to carry out a habitat impact assessment
4. the benefits of managing game habitat
5. habitat management objectives
6. how to manage habitat to optimise its sporting value and nature conservation
7. the interaction of game habitat with other land users
8. how human influences and land usage can impact on habitat
9. where to source advice, information and grant aid in respect of game habitat management and conservation
10. game habitat management activities and the factors that can affect their implementation
11. how to support game habitat management activities
12. why game habitat management activities may need to be modified if there are changes in environmental conditions
13. the relevant legal requirements controlling game habitat management activities
14. how game habitat management varies throughout the annual cycle
15. the legal basis for your lawful presence on the land in order to manage game habitat
16. the health and safety requirements associated with game habitat management activities

Make contributions to the management of game habitat to support the following activities:

• habitat monitoring/habitat impact assessment
• habitat creation
• habitat maintenance

Identify and deal with the impact of three of the following influences:

• environmental condition
• resource availability
• land usage
• legislation
• human influences

Maintain the use of the following resources, within known constraints:

• people
• materials
• equipment
• time

Game – legal game quarry species, including deer

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

Area characteristics – such as topography, other land activities, land type, drainage

Habitat creation – For example: the establishment of annual cover crops, the establishment of permanent hedgerows or woodland, etc.