Vegetation Management and Conservation (BOTA30004)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
| Availability(Quotas apply) | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject provides a detailed knowledge of vegetation structure and natural values of Victorian plant communities and their assessment, including environmental limiting factors, threats due to land use, development and fragmentation, and management issues related to environmental impact assessment and conservation of native vegetation. The subject will be based around short excursions to examine different vegetation types in the Melbourne region, and a series of special lectures by scientists, managers and consultants from both the government and private sectors. Topics will include:
- ecology and natural history of Victorian plant communities;
- environmental impacts and vegetation assessment;
- conservation and management issues (e.g. revegetation, rare species, fauna habitat, weed invasions);
- biodiversity legislation and government agencies;
- consulting services and client focus.
Intended learning outcomes
By the end of this subject, students should be able to:
- Understand the legislative requirements and governmental structure for managing native vegetation in Victoria;
- Apply recognised techniques to the assessment of the structure, composition and significance of Victorian native plant communities;
- Create vegetation assessments, a map, and develop a management plan combining field observation, expert opinion, and scientific literature;
- Evaluate empirical support for common vegetation management models and actions.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject students should have obtained the following generic skills:
- • Recognize the need for information; effectively search for, evaluate, manage and apply that information in support of scientific investigation or scholarly debate
- • Employ highly developed conceptual, analytical, quantitative and technical skills and are adept with a range of technologies
- • Evaluate the role of science, mathematics, technology, and engineering in addressing current issues facing local and global communities, for example climate change, land use change
- • Work effectively in groups to meet a shared goal with people whose disciplinary and cultural backgrounds differ from their own
- • Communicate clearly and convincingly about science and technology ideas, practice and future contributions to expert and non-expert audiences, matching the mode of communication to their audience
Last updated: 9 April 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
A minimum of 75 credit points of Level 2 subjects
at least 50 points of which are from subjects from a Science degree
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Basics of plant biology and identification:
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOTA20001 | Green Planet: Plants and the Environment | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| BOTA20002 | Plant Biodiversity | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| BOTA20004 | Flora of Victoria | Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Basic ecology:
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECOL20003 | Ecology | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
This subject requires all students to actively and safely participate in practical work and fieldwork activities. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their participation are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Subject Coordinator and Student Equity and Disability Support.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 9 April 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Written report on practical work
| First half of the teaching period | 15% |
Written report on practical work
| Mid semester | 15% |
Written report on practical work
| From Week 10 to Week 11 | 30% |
Take home exam
| During the examination period | 40% |
| Hurdle requirement: Students must punctually attend, and satisfactorily participate in, at least 80% of offsite practicals. | N/A |
Last updated: 9 April 2025
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Peter Vesk Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 170 hours Pre teaching requirements 1 x one hour lecture per week; 48 hours fieldwork and practical work (4 hours per week, plus up to one hour travel time to and from field sites) Teaching period 22 July 2024 to 20 October 2024 Last self-enrol date 8 July 2024 Census date 2 September 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 20 September 2024 Assessment period ends 15 November 2024 Semester 2 contact information
Professor Peter Vesk - pvesk@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
Estimated total time commitment of 170 hours
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
An enrolment quota of 45 students applies to this subject. For detailed information on the quota subject application process, enrolment deadlines and selection preferences, refer to the Faculty of Science website: https://science.unimelb.edu.au/students/plan-your-bsc-continuing/quota-subjects
Last updated: 9 April 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Subject notes
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Major Botany Informal specialisation Plant Science Major Plant Science Informal specialisation Science Discipline subjects - new generation B-SCI Informal specialisation Plant Science Major Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Major Environmental Science Major Landscape Ecosystem Management Informal specialisation Environments Discipline subjects Major Environmental Science - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 9 April 2025