Course Overview

Course Overview

The Natural Resource Preservation Training Course is designed to equip participants with the knowledge, principles, and practical tools required to protect, manage, and sustainably utilize natural resources. Focused on South African and global environmental frameworks, this course addresses biodiversity conservation, land and water management, sustainable resource use, and community-based stewardship.

The course is ideal for individuals and organizations aiming to reduce their environmental impact, support ecological resilience, and align with legal and sustainability commitments.

Duration: 3 Days

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the importance and scope of natural resource preservation.
• Identify key environmental threats to soil, water, forests, air, and biodiversity.
• Apply sustainable practices in agriculture, land use, water conservation, and energy consumption.
• Interpret and comply with environmental legislation and sustainability frameworks (e.g., NEMA, SDGs, ESG, EMPrs).
• Design and implement community or workplace-based preservation initiatives.
• Evaluate the ecological and social impacts of resource depletion.
• Contribute to environmental resilience and green economy efforts.

Course Content

Day 1: Foundations of Natural Resource Management and Legal Context

• Module 1: Introduction to Natural Resource Preservation
  • What Are Natural Resources?
  • Importance of Conservation and Sustainable Use
  • Types: Renewable vs Non-Renewable Resources
• Module 2: Environmental Challenges and Human Impact
  • Causes of Resource Degradation
  • Climate Change, Deforestation, Pollution, Overuse
  • Local and Global Case Studies
• Module 3: Environmental Law and Policy Framework
  • Overview of NEMA (National Environmental Management Act)
  • SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and ESG Principles
  • Municipal By-laws and Resource Protection Guidelines

Day 2: Sector-Specific Preservation Strategies

• Module 4: Water Resource Management
  • Water Scarcity and Pollution
  • Catchment Management, Rainwater Harvesting, and Wetland Protection
  • South Africa’s National Water Act Principles
• Module 5: Land, Soil, and Biodiversity
  • Soil Preservation and Rehabilitation
  • Sustainable Farming and Land Use Practices
  • Biodiversity Conservation and Protected Areas
• Module 6: Forests, Air Quality, and Energy Resources
  • Indigenous Vegetation Protection
  • Combating Illegal Logging and Forest Fragmentation
  • Clean Air Strategies and Renewable Energy Basics

Day 3: Community Engagement, Monitoring and Practical Application

• Module 7: Community-Based Resource Stewardship
  • Educating and Empowering Local Stakeholders
  • Participatory Approaches to Conservation
  • Traditional Knowledge in Resource Management
• Module 8: Monitoring, Evaluation and Action Planning
  • Environmental Monitoring Tools (EMPs, EIAs, GIS basics)
  • Developing and Implementing a Preservation Initiative
  • Reporting and Continuous Improvement
• Final Practical Group Exercise:
  • Build a Natural Resource Preservation Plan for a Selected Region/Sector
  • Present Preservation Strategy with Legal and Ecological Rationale
• Course Wrap-Up and Certification Review

Course Difficulty: Beginner to Immediate