Ecosystems Management

 
 
Nature conservation starts at your own front door
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michael  

Michael Hickman
Dip. Parks & Recreation Admin. Cert. Hort. Cert. Turf Management

Date of birth:          23.12.52

Place of Birth:        Durban, South Africa

Nationality:             psa

Residence:             j I also have New Zealand residence

Languages:           I am fully bi-lingual, I speak read and write                           English
                                                                                                                          German 
                             
                              I read and understand                                                         Dutch      
                                                                                                                          Afrikaans 

                              I speak and understand                                                       Zulu 

Address:               PO Box 60
                             4345 Mount Moreland
                             South Africa
                              
                              Tel: +27 82 061 2593

                             

                                        j   Contact me
                                        

                              info@ecoman.co.za

                              info@ecosystems-management.com
                             
                             


Tertiary qualifications:
National Technical Certificate in Horticulture (Three year course) Technikon Pretoria 1973

j National Diploma in Parks and Recreation Administration Technikon Natal (Durban)1979

Other qualifications and training:
Four year horticultural pupilage - Parks Recreation and Beaches Department, Durabn City Council (Now Ethekwini Municipality)

oct Certificate in Turf Grass Management (Cum Laude) - Technikon Pretoria 1984 (Award for Top Student)

Numerous operational training courses


Paid Employment:
Horticulturist - Durban Parks Department 1971 to 1998

Section Manager (approx. 18 years)
Main duties:   

Planning of horticultural development (LANDSCAPE PLANNING AND DESIGN) as well as the horticultural maintenance of several suburbs, including: Parks; roadside plantings, native vegetation reserves (including coastal sand dunes), storm water and wetland projects, recreational amenities, sports fields (12 rugby/soccer and 3 cricket pitches)

Line manager for 25 staff
Adviser to industry and community groups on environmental issues.

District Manager approx. (5 years)
Main duties:   
Strategic development advice landscape planning and design as well as the supervision for section managers.
Line manager for five section managers.
Appointment of staff.

Key projects:  
j Re-creation of coastal sand dunes: several kilometres of sand dunes were re-established and planted with suitable native vegetation. Boardwalks were designed and installed to allow beach access without disturbing the dunes.

Durban Municipal Open Space System: planning design and implementation of various parts of a continuos green corridor linking significant areas of natural vegetation across the city, including the establishment of walking trails and re-creation of wetlands and native ecosystems.

j The transplanting of large trees

Storm Water Projects: 

1) I produced the concept, lobbied for and gained approval to create a storm water retention pond and wetland using native vegetation which successfully alleviated a storm water drainage problem that had required the Durban City Council to buy and demolish several houses that were subjected to frequent flooding. The alternative would have been to build a multi-million SA Rand tunnel to dispose of the storm water to prevent flooding of an adjoining road and houses. 
2) I was also involved in the design and implementation of a storm water diversion project to prevent a local river from flooding Durban City's main fresh produce market and surrounding factories.

Training of Parks Department staff and trainee horticulturists: Development of curriculum and presentation of training.

j  Examiner of Technikon students for national examination board. (see below


Self Employment engagen in while in the full time employment of the Durban City Council

Bluff Tropical Nursery (197, my involvement continues to present)
Equal joint partner in wholesale and retail nursery, selling a range of native and exotic, outdoor and indoor ornamental plants.
Private consulting (approx. 1975 to 1998)
Key projects:    Bluff National Country Club golf course (1985)
Interior plantscaping
Aboriculture
joen Fountain Hill Estate, Wartburg, Natal (Client - Ernst Taeuber)


Special interests:
Orchids in particular South African native Orchids.
Native plants and plantings, Key areas. South Africa, Western Europe, New Zealand.
Re-naturalisation of eco-systems
j Wetlands
j Gardening for wildlife - in particular birds and insects
Urban conservation
The planting and transplanting of native trees


Membership of professional institutes
j The Institute of Parks and Recreation Administration

Training of and Examination of Students
The Parks Department of the Durban City Council together with the Durban Botanic Gardens Trust undertakes to do practical and theoretical training of Students studying Landscape Design as well as Horticulture students. The Parks Department also undertakes to facilitate and host  the practical and theoretical Examination of Landscape Design and Horticulture students for the National Examination Board.

Below is a sample of my involvement in the training and examination of Landscape Design and Horticulture students for the National Examination Board (South Africa).
j National Examination Board appointment as examiner for Soil Science
j National Examination Board
j National Examination Board appointment as examiner for Conservation
j National Examination Board
j Appointment as lecturer Bulbs and Specialized Storage Organs
j Appointment as lecturer Turfgrass Management

Self Employment:

Bluff Tropical Nursery
(1971-2007)
Equal joint partner in wholesale and retail nursery, selling a range of native and exotic, outdoor and indoor ornamental plants.

j Michael Hickman Ecosystems Management. Closed Corporation (Since 1998) South Africa

j Ecosystems Management Limited New Zealand

Sole equity stake holder in private corporation.

Services:
   
Environmental consulting.
The rehabilitation of natural systems - planning and implementation.
Landscape planning and design utilizing native plants.
General landscape design and implementation.
Interior plantscaping.
Aboriculture.
Hydroseeding
Erosion control
Green roof design and construction

Key projects:   
j Mount Edgecombe Country Club Estate
Re-establishment of species balance in natural ecosystem.
Alien weed control in forested areas and control of water hyacinth on large expanses of water.
Landscape design and implementation.
j Zimbali golf estate
Landscape design and implementation using exclusively native plants.
joene Ongoing landscaping using native plants at Fountain Hill Estate. (Now ended due to the death of the client)
j Cato Manor Pond and Wetland

j Horticultural experienced gained in Germany

j Horticultural experience gained in New Zealand

Experience, Certificates and assessments gained in New Zealand

j Two and a half years of practical hands on hydroseeding experience
j Growsafe Certificate
j Approved Handler
j New Zealand Qualifications Authority Qualification Assessment Report

j Here you can view a sample of the Projects that I have been involved in

Current Projects

j Creating natural habitat at King Shaka International Airport, La Mercy, Durban, South Africa
j Research into green roof design and construction


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Designed, Developed & Maintained by Michael Hickman
Last updated on 18.06.09