Soils, Plants and Phytoremediation

This one day course delivered as two online sessions across two days will help participants recognise the remedial actions that can be taken to resolve or reduce the effects of human impacts on biodiversity, such as recreational pressure or pollution. We will also look at habitat indicator plant species and the habitats in which they grow and cover the importance of understanding the laws surrounding protected species and invasive plants. This beginners’ course is suitable for both professionals and conservation volunteers wanting to a) understand how adverse environmental conditions impact biodiversity and b) identify methods that can be taken to remediate the effects of pollution/contamination, compaction and over-enrichment.

This course will cover soils, plants and phytoremediation. The course will help participants understand soil types, horizons, structures and nutrients and the effects of soil pH balance (acid, neutral, basic/alkaline). We will also look at mycorrhizal fungi and symbiotic relationships between plant species and their importance for biodiversity and the food web. Participants will learn how to identify habitat types and indicator plants and identify plant species that can be used for phytoremediation. We will look at brown sites, pollutants and nutrient enrichment and hyper-accumulators, bioaccumulation and harvesting. Participants will also gain an understanding of the laws surrounding protected species and invasive plants. Please note that the trainer is not able to give any advice on specific projects during this course and can only provide general advice. Many factors have to be taken into consideration and the course is designed to highlight these considerations - soil conditions, indicator plants, over-enrichment, heavy metals and the importance of maintaining healthy relationships with soil bacteria and fungi. Training will take place remotely via Zoom at a relaxed pace over two half days.

This course is suitable for local authority ecologists and planners, conservation officers and licensing staff within SNCOs or NGO’s, students, ecological consultants, environmental managers, wardens and rangers. This course is also suitable for conservation volunteers.

Beginner

No prior knowledge or experience is necessary, although some botanical knowledge would be useful.

• Identify human impacts (e.g. recreational pressure, pollution) on biodiversity and resolve constraints through remedial actions.
• Understand soil types, structure, nutrients, symbiosis and indicator plants.
• Identify appropriate remedial actions to achieve positive outcomes for biodiversity (within legislative constraints).
• Identify remedial plant species.
• Make assessment of species status (native/non-native and/or invasive/protected)
• Use safe, biosecure and legal species handling techniques.
• Recognise personal limitations and areas for development and seeking opportunities to develop knowledge, understanding and skills.