Woodland Herbivore Impact Assessment - Training the Trainer

Summary

This course is for people who are familiar with using the WHIA full version and who wish to provide training for others in the use of this method. There are 2 sessions to this course, the first will be delivered online and the second part will be in person in Woodland on Birnam Hill, behind Dunkeld and Birnam railway station.

Description

The course will provide a refresher in the use of the Woodland Herbivore Impact Assessment (WHIA) Method (April 2023 version), and guidance on how to present and run a course for others who are new to the method. It will discuss and present suggestions for how to demonstrate some of the more challenging aspects of the method.

The course will review the methodology, but it is assumed that course participants would have some prior experience of the method, either directly or through supervising projects where contractors have carried out WHIA surveys.
A description of the current WHIA methodology can be found here:
https://forestry.gov.scot/publications/1480-the-woodland-herbivore-impact-assessment-method-user-guide/download

The training will be in two parts:
Part 1: An online three hour session to review the WHIA methodology focussing on the more challenging aspects of the method and how to present and simplify these. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion.

Part 2: A day in a woodland to demonstrate and practice using the method. Issues that will be covered include:
• How to identify and assess a WHIA “stop”, and how these points differ from fixed quadrats
• How to distinguish between current and historic herbivore impacts.
• How to identify and measure herbivore impacts on the 7 indicators.
• Importance of recognising relative plant palatability in assessing impacts.
• How to record browsing /grazing levels in the field.

The WHIA method enables users to consistently assess herbivore impacts on woodland. As such, it is an essential aspect of adaptive woodland management in relation to herbivores, and a critical part of the assessment of woodland condition.

Sessions

Session Date of session Session Times
Session 1 (Online) 29 October 2024 10:00 - 13:00
Session 2 (Field Visit) 30 October 2024 10:30 - 15:30

Who Should Attend?

Ecological surveyors/consultants who have used the Woodland Herbivore Impact Assessment full version and would like to train others.

Knowledge Level

Intermediate - Advanced

Prior Knowledge

Course attendees must be able to:
• identify native tree species in winter and summer
• identify common woodland plants such as blaeberry, raspberry and honeysuckle

Learning Outcomes

  • Be able to provide training to others in the WHIA method
  • Identify and measure browsing impacts on a range of woodland indicators
  • Using the browsing impact data, calculate herbivore impact level on any upland natural woodland

Refreshments

Please bring your own refreshments and lunch, for a day out in the field.

Tickets

Tickets Person(s) Price (£) Price (€)
CIEEM Member Ticket 1 £142.00 €166.00
Non Member Ticket 1 £205.00 €240.00