Wildlife and Forestry Conservation

Your at-home learning program includes seven Instruction Sets designed to take you step-by-step through the techniques and skills you’ll employ in your new career in Wildlife/Forestry Conservation. Your first Instruction Set will be sent to you as soon as your enrolment has been accepted. Other Instruction Sets will follow as you complete your exams, so that you will always have training materials to work with.

Here is an overview of what you’ll learn and the order in which you’ll receive your learning materials:

Instruction Set 1

• Learning Strategies
  • The advantages of learning at home; types of study materials; types of examinations; accessing and using the features of our website; determining what kind of learner you are; establishing a study schedule; using study tips; preparing for and taking examinations.
• The Good Life
  • Behind the scenes; jobs for all ages; government conservation agencies; private industry; your own business.

Instruction Set 2

• Wildlife Management: Upland Game Birds
  • Upland game birds and the wildlife manager; families of upland game birds .
• Wildlife Management: Waterfowl
  • What are waterfowl; identification and natural history; basic biology; management of habitat; management of populations through harvest; monitoring waterfowl populations.

Instruction Set 3

• Wildlife Management: Small Mammals, Part 1
  • Principles of wildlife management; the modern observer; unifying ideas; population principles; habitat principles; operating a species management system: The Raccoon Model.
• Wildlife Management: Small Mammals, Part 2
  • Individual species and groups; multispecies management systems.

Instruction Set 4

• Wildlife Management: Large Mammals, Part 1
  • Introduction to big game; principles of big-game management; population dynamics; harvest management goals; wildlife lands; techniques for improving big-game habitat; big-game management techniques.
• Wildlife Management: Large Mammals, Part 2
  • Carnivores, artiodactyla.
• Wildlife Management: Predators
  • Predator management concepts; the need for predation management; predation prevention techniques; predator management techniques; managing canid predators; managing felid predators; managing mustelid predators; managing omnivorous predators; animal handling and chemical immobilization.
• Park Management
  • The National Park System; recreation and resources; techniques for limiting damage; building a park; managing private/wilderness/campground areas.

Instruction Set 5

• Rangelands Management
  • Rangeland physical characteristics; rangeland vegetation; rangeland livestock on rangelands; conserving soil with farming techniques; terracing; water conservation.
• Introduction to Forestry Science
  • Getting acquainted with the forest; dendrology: the scientific study of trees; forest management; forest technologies; forest products; new directions and technologies in forestry; trees of the forest.

Instruction Set 6

• Cold Water Fish Management
  • Principle cold-water game fish; cold-water fisheries and habitat assessment; fish population assessment; damage to stream fish and their habitats; damage to lake fish and their habitats; cold-water fish management tools.
• Warm Water Fish Management
  • Common warm-water game fish species; management of wild fisheries; techniques used in fish management; careers in fish management.
• Aquaculture Science
  • aquaculture basics and history; aquatic plants and animals; marketing aquaculture; management practices for finfish; management practices for crustaceans; management practices for alligators, frogs and plants; fundamentals of nutrition in aquaculture; feeds and feeding; health of aquatic animals; water requirements for aquaculture; aquatic structures and equipment; aquaculture business; career opportunities.
• Textbook: Aquaculture Science

Instruction Set 7

• International Conservation Issues
  • The Philippines; New Zealand; Australia; The United Kingdom; The Netherlands; Canada.
• Safety in the Field
  • Planning; gear; data collection; techniques; hazards.
• Wildlife Law Enforcement
  • The role to law enforcement in the conservation field; the Canadian court system; The Canadian constitution; Canada National Parks Act; wildlife law violations; case management; collection and preservation of evidence; skills acquisition and field situations; wildlife enforcement field experience

Online Library and Librarian
Students in ICS Canada have access to an online library for use during their studies. Students can use this library to do the required research in the courses they complete or can use it for general reference and links to valuable resources. The library contains helpful research assistance, articles, databases, books, and Web links. A librarian is available to answer questions on general research-related topics via email and assist students in research activities during their studies with ICS Canada.

We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.