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Diploma/Certificate of Environmental Management
Greetings from the Environmental Management Team:
We would like to take this opportunity to update you on developments with our environmental management program at Northland Polytechnic. We urge you to pass this information on to students or anyone else who may be interested. Please also feel free to contact Vince Kerr, program leader.
Highlights from 1998:
The Northland environment offers amazing opportunity for ecological study and environmental challenges to tackle. This year we have projects and research underway all over Northland , a brief list.
 | a challenging soil ecology project involving the latest approaches to interpreting the soil foodweb and ecological indicators - field work is underway on two organic dairy farms. |
| Monitoring work with Doc's mainland island program involving Waipoua forest, Maungatapere Mt, and Bream Head |
| Marine Ecology expeditions and surveys at North Cape, Cape Brett and the Hen & Chick's Islands-(next year we will have three staff with Dive Controller qualifications and will be undertaking more scuba work with students.) |
| A major catchment/freshwater ecology project done in conjunction with Carter Holt Harvey |
| Ecological surveys of two streams and involvement in stream restoration. |
| An internet project on environmental advocacy in Northland soon to be launched. |
| The second Year students took a mid-winter trip to Tonga to undertake Ecological Investigations (among other things).By all accounts a resounding success, including the Professor and all his tutors being invited to a Royal Feast! |
| An advocacy project where students organised a meeting with Jeanette Fitzsimons, MP. Green Party Co-Leader and former lecturer at Auckland University in Environmental Planning |
| Mainland Island monitoring work being done at Trounson Park Reserve on the West Coast, Katui near Trounson and at Bream Head , Whangarei . |
| A large study of the Pataua Estuary |
| Recreational use survey work with Doc. |
The Environmental Management Program
The Vision:
We are committed to an environmental studies program
which will allow students to develop :
| A strong environmental knowledge of environmental challenges. |
| A solid background in Ecology and conservation . |
| skills in leaning , research , analysis , problem solving , critical thinking and specific applied skills in a field of their choice . |
| An awareness of the social , cultural , political and economic dimensions of environmental management . |
| A direct involvement in the protection and restoration of the Northland natural environment , the built environment , and the managed environment . |
| An awareness of the effect which personal lifestyle and resource use have on the greater environmental challenges we face . |
The program has at its core , theoretical and practical work in conservation , resource management and environmental issues . Students have the opportunity in their second year of study to concentrate their learning in marine ecology/ conservation , conservation management/biology , the applied areas of resource management , and outdoor recreation and leadership .
Our program , wherever possible , embraces an "engagement" philosophy .This involves centring learning around getting involved with real issues and practical problems , solutions ,and restoration work out in the environment . We actively support institutions , individuals , and community in achieving environmental goals .
Our program recognises that the test of "sustainability" is the central challenge facing all aspects of mans relationship with the environment . We recognise that the concept of sustainability , developed in the United Nations , Agenda 21 document and embedded in our legislation , (R.M.A. Part II , s2) requires an integration of biological , social and economic dimensions . We believe that the multi-disciplinary environmental approach gives our students the best possible learning opportunity in this environment . This approach at the same time allows students to pursue a specialised area of expertise , while developing a strong environmental background .
Our graduates will be well placed to pursue a wide and growing number of environmental careers.
Copyright©1998Department of Environmental Management