My BIG friends

This was my first encounter with elephants, i had done it apart of sondela, just to overcome my fear of animals a gazillion times my size.

The Gentle Giants

Elephant Interaction

We had such a lovely day with the elephants! it was such a great opertunity to get away from the daily routine and visit a nearby game ranch. The elephants were AMAZING! It just shows you how important wildlife is to Africa and our tourism which we are ever so dependent on. The caretakers of the elephants were great and so loyal to their animals. The Guy in charge was so willing to teach us about their behavior and personalities. It was an incredible experience. i would encouridge enyone to take part in such an activity as it raises awareniss of the difficult tasks any animal undertakes to survive in "HUMAN HABITAT".

CONCLUSION: Im in love with a gentle GIANT.

We took some first years to our cattle camp to demonstrate how we dip the cattle with tick-off to protect them from diseases and tick bite fever. This is essential to secure the health and conditions of the cattle.

The bales

We loaded the bales onto a tractor to put into the store room. we use the bales to feed our farm animals

Glad to be back

our academic year has officially started today!  Very excited to start the new course and face new challenges! as you wil notice i have posted some random things on ersosion and policies and procedures - this is done to save important articles on a external device (the web)........... not my idea.

wil be posting awsome photos soon of our graduation day on the 20th of jan and some of feb.

Policies and procedures for the workplace

Question 3: Report on importance of policies and procedures

Policies and Procedures are the strategic link between the Company's Vision and its day-to-day operations. But why is that so important? It's because well written policies & procedures allow employees to understand their roles and responsibilities within predefined limits. Basically, policies & procedures allow management to guide operations without constant management intervention. In order to understand why policies & procedures are so important we need to know what they are and differences between them. So let's start by taking a look at policies: A "Policy" is a predetermined course of action which is established to provide a guide toward accepted business strategies and objectives. In other words, it is a direct link between an organization's "Vision" and their day-to-day operations. Policies identify the key activities and provide a general strategy to decision-makers on how to handle issues as they arise. This is accomplished by providing the reader with limits and a choice of alternatives that can be used to "guide" their decision making process as they attempt to overcome problems. I like to think of "policies" as a globe where national boundaries, oceans, mountain ranges and other major features are easily identified. With that concept in mind let's take about procedures next.The ultimate goal of every procedure is to provide the reader with a clear and easily understood plan of action required to carry out or implement a policy. A well written procedure will also help eliminate common misunderstandings by identifying job responsibilities and establishing boundaries for the job holders. Good procedures actually allow managers to control events in advance and prevent the organization (and employees) from making costly mistakes. You can think of a procedure as a road map where the trip details are highlighted in order to prevent a person from getting lost or "wandering" off an acceptable path identified by the company's management team.

The major differences between policies & procedures are identified below:

Policies:

• Are general in nature

• Identify company rules

• Explain why they exist

• Tells when the rule applies

• Describes who it covers

• Shows how the rule is enforcement

• Describes the consequences

• Are normally described using simple sentences & paragraphs

Procedures:

• Identify specific actions

• Explain when to take actions

• Describes alternatives

• Shows emergency procedures

• Includes warning & cautions

http://www.ameinfo.com/55422.htm (bibliograpgh)

Contribute to the health safety and security of the workplace

110064

SO1: Identify potential hazzards in the work place.

Potential hazzards should be identified correctly and removed/reported/reduced in terms of own level of authority/ capasity.
hazzards can be anything from loose tiles to open live wires, low ceilings etc. these thigs should be reported to management as soon as possible and follow up on it afterwards to see if something has been done about the situation. simple procedures like this can eliminate things like lawsuits or personel getting injured.

as per company there are usually intructions on how to handel dangerous situations like substances or suspisious persons and why such situations are handeled a certain way.

Erosion

Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids (sediment, soil, rock and other particles) in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere. It usually occurs due to transport by wind, water, or ice; by down-slope creep of soil and other material under the force of gravity; or by living organisms, such as burrowing animals, in the case of bioerosion

Causes:
*The biological factors include ground cover from vegetation or lack thereof, the type of organisms inhabiting the area, and the land use.
*In general, given similar vegetation and ecosystems, areas with high-intensity precipitation, more frequent rainfall, more wind, or more storms are expected to have more erosion.
*Heavy grazing can reduce vegetation enough to increase erosion. Changes in the kind of vegetation in an area can also affect erosion rates.
*One of the main causes of erosive soil loss in the year 2006 is the result of slash and burn treatment of tropical forest. When the total ground surface is stripped of vegetation and then seared of all living organisms, the upper soils are vulnerable to both wind and water erosion

Effects:
*Approximately 40% of the world's agricultural land is seriously degraded
*Sheet erosion is the detachment of soil particles by raindrop impact and their removal downslope by water flowing overland as a sheet instead of in definite channels or rills. The impact of the raindrop breaks apart the soil aggregate. Particles of clay, silt and sand fill the soil pores and reduce infiltration. After the surface pores are filled with sand, silt or clay, overland surface flow of water begins due to the lowering of infiltration rates
*Rill erosion refers to the development of small, ephemeral concentrated flow paths, which function as both sediment source and sediment delivery systems for erosion on hillslopes. Generally, where water erosion rates on disturbed upland areas are greatest, rills are active. Flow depths in rills are typically on the order of a few centimeters or less and slopes may be quite steep. These conditions constitute a very different hydraulic environment than typically found in channels of streams and river
*Gully erosion, also called ephemeral gully erosion, occurs when water flows in narrow channels during or immediately after heavy rains or melting snow. This is particularly noticeable in the formation of hollow ways, where, prior to being tarmacked, an old rural road has over many years become significantly lower than the surrounding fields. A gully is sufficiently deep that it would not be routinely destroyed by tillage operations, whereas rill erosion is smoothed by ordinary farm tillage. The narrow channels, or gullies, may be of considerable depth, ranging from 1 to 2 feet (0.61 m) to as much as 75 to 100 feet (30 m). Gully erosion is not accounted for in the revised universal soil loss equation.

Techniques used to combat erosion:
*Wind Breakes
*Ground coverage with branches or grass or any organic material
*Strone baskets places against slopes
*stream bank protection
*correct farming methods used.

Personal experience:
We started a anti-erosion project on a piece of degraded and eroded veldt in the springbok flats
Covering the ground with branches and old grass, pitting holes into the ground and
dispersing seeds.

Conservation in sosiety

CONSERVATION IN SOCIETY
US: 252468
SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1
Explain the concept and principles of nature conservation in broad terms.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1
The concept of nature conservation is explained in broad terms.Conserving the natural resources for future availability. To conserve is to protect a natural resource from over usage, hunting, harvesting and overall abusing. It must be done in such a manner that all aspects as people, areas and legislation agrees.
ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2
The principles of nature conservation are outlined as to define the role and purpose of Nature Conservation. We conserve resources from an ethical fundamental which is a principle, aswel as sustainability of a project.
ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3
A comparison is drawn between sustainable and unsustainable use of natural resources. To be sustainable any project, farm, game reserve, heritage site, park needs 3 balanced fundamentals aka: money, physical aspects and cultural aspects.
Considering each contributes to the other.
SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2
Outline the history of nature conservation. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1
An outline is given of key developments in the history of nature conservation as it applies to changing emphasis within this operational environment. Key developments in history include the trial and errors which have contributed to a paradigm shifts in people’s idea of what needs to be done to conserve resourses. From species conservation to biodiversity conservation. Animal centred to people centred aswell as protected areas shifting to landscape areas.
.ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 Phases such as different era’s, wants, beliefs, generations changes has caused different fases in conservation aswell as the impact of war, groot trek and inhabitation of South Africa as a whole. This all has lead to the realisation of conserving landmass, animals, minerals etc.
SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3
Demonstrate the relevance of nature conservation principles to society.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1
The value of nature conservation is explained as it applies to its aesthetic and ecological value. Aesthetically we conserve places or species for the beauty and peace of mind it contributes, it also generates more attraction for tourist and is both beneficial for work creation and tourist. Ecologically we conserve with the goal to keep ecosystems sustainable and self-functioning with minimal impact of human habitation. Ensuring a stable ecological system ensures safe drinking water sources and food availability and continuous resources.
ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2
The relevance of nature conservation is explained as it applies to the legacy of nature conservation for future generations. It is the ethical thing to do. Conserving means those future generations will also experience the resources we do at this day in time which is only fare. Effective conservation reduces global warming, eco-system collapse and destruction of natural heritage.
ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3
The importance of nature conservation is explained as it applies to its economic and recreational value. Keeping resources sustainable means good eco-tourism, work creation, entrepreneurs, training and available medicine to local tribes. This all is beneficial for the economy of that specific area. People can also take part in sports and activities which they would travel far and wide to do. Conserving such places creates the possibilities of recreation.
　
ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4
The contribution of nature conservation to a nation's health is described
South Africa is known for its biodiversity in cultures, fauna & flora, minerals, etc. conserving all these this creates attraction to south Africa from all over the world as we have some of the most beautiful places and animals to be seen as well as multiple different cultures and beliefs to experience. We have a rich history of war and apartheid and how our country rised from the ashes. Conserving what we have left makes South Africa a sustainable tourism industry.
SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4
Explain the inter-relatedness within ecosystems.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1
The meaning of eco-system inter-relatedness is clarified through the use of key conservation terms. ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2
The importance of conserving the integrity of the habitat is explained as it applies to the promoting of the survival of species. The importance of conserving such is to keep or develop it itno a sustainable system where minimal human interaction is needed. Implementing biodiversity for example makes an eco-system even more sustainable as it widens food chains and lowers risk of starvation.
SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5
Identify scarce plants and animals.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1
An outline is provided of the work of local, national and international conservations agencies. NGO's- non governmental organisation
IUCN- International union for conserving nature
WWF- world wildlife fund
TRAFFIC-TRAFFIC's Visionis of a world in which trade in wild plants and animals is managed at sustainable levels without damaging the integrity of ecological systems and in such a manner that it makes a significant contribution to human needs, supports local and national economies and helps to motivate commitments to the conservation of wild species and their habitats.
ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2
Definitions are provided along with relevant examples of what is meant by the expression "red data". ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3
A tabulation is given of CITES categories. ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4
An outline is provided of other degrees of scarcity/abundance of species. .
Key phases in the development of Nature Conservation is identified and discussed.