Field Survey Techiques

Field surveys and data collection of vegetation, are essential for base-line studies and for appropriate site/habitat planning, management and monitoring. It is a valuable skill when seeking employment in the environmental sector. The course is designed to give a thorough theoretical and practical grounding in available techniques which are demonstrated via simulations mainly in practical workshops (with some fieldwork). This enables many situations to be considered and the results evaluated which is not easy in the field. It also maximizes time and removes the necessity to identify species (another valuable skill covered in the course `Identifying Flowering Plants’). The course covers: types of vegetation classification; how to measure abundance; standard survey methods (a brief introduction to Phase 1 survey, National Vegetation Classification (NVC); measuring diversity and calculating indices; producing species areas curves; measuring association and similarity; sampling strategies; vegetation surveys including planning a survey and collecting data. This module is at CQFW Level 5.