Problem Plant Species Control Programme Implementation Training

Learning Outcomes

• Identify problem plant species and assess their impact on ecosystems and land use.
• Apply relevant legislation and regulations governing invasive species control.
• Develop and implement a control programme using appropriate methods and techniques.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of control measures and adjust plans accordingly.
• Demonstrate safe and responsible use of herbicides and other control agents.
• Communicate and coordinate with stakeholders to ensure programme success.

Target Audience

This course is designed for environmental practitioners, land managers, conservation officers, and agricultural extension workers responsible for invasive species management in natural or agricultural settings.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment.

Course Outline

Practicals

Overview

Practical sessions are integral to this course, allowing learners to apply control techniques in real or simulated field conditions. Learners will practice plant identification, mechanical removal, herbicide mixing and application, equipment calibration, and safety procedures under supervision.

Practical Activities

• Plant Identification and Site Assessment — Learners conduct a field survey to identify problem plant species, estimate infestation density, and map the area using GPS. (3h)
• Mechanical Control Techniques — Learners practice manual removal, cutting, and stem-stumping of selected problem plants, using appropriate tools and safety gear. (4h)
• Herbicide Mixing and Application — Learners calculate herbicide dosage, mix solutions, calibrate knapsack sprayers, and apply herbicides using foliar spray and stem injection methods. (5h)
• Integrated Control and Monitoring — Learners implement an integrated control plan on a small plot, combining mechanical and chemical methods, and set up monitoring transects. (4h)

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course via daily exercises, scored practical assignments, and a final summative test at the end.

Practical Assignments — 30%

Practical assignments are observed and scored against a rubric during the practical sessions. Each delegate's practical mark is averaged into a single 100% score and contributes 30% to the final total.

Daily Exercises — 20%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 20% to the final total.

Final Test — 50%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 50% to the overall mark.

Final Total

Component	Out of	Weight
Practical Assignments (rubric-scored)	100%	30%
Daily Average (multiple choice)	100%	20%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice)	100%	50%
Final Total	—	100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

How it works

• Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
• Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
• You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
• If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.

Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates	Discount
5	3% off
10	6% off
15	9% off
20	12% off
25	15% off
30	18% off
50	30% off
75	35% off
100	40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.