The forest canopy if the richest, least studied and most threatened habitat on the surface of the earth. The difficulties and challenges of studying forest canopies, coupled with the lack of any formalised training programme has led to an extreme paucity of knowledge about this habitat.

Canopy Science has had to develop a range of pioneering new methods for exploring tall trees beginning with trained monkeys and evolving to use satellites from space. Towers, walkways and climbing rope techniques borrowed from cavers are routinely used. More recently one-person balloons and even airships have been successfully deployed. Today giant construction cranes are emerging as the most productive tool.

The Canopy Access Proficiency (CAP) system developed by the GCP in collaboration with Canopy Access Ltd is unique and represents the first attempt to address this problem by providing practical canopy science training in the UK. To date we have trained over 150 canopy scientists in the UK, Brazil and S.E. Asia increasing the capacity for forest canopy research both in the UK and worldwide.

The Canopy Access Proficiency (CAP) system
Despite the beauty and excitement of working in the high canopy, safety must always be the overriding consideration. Until recently, no protocol dedicated to canopy access had existed. Elements of several different rope-based activities have relevance, yet no single existing system has been able to fill this void comprehensively.

The CAP system is the first to standardize an integrated canopy access system and provide an industry-based approach to rope access to the forest canopy.
We teach a programme that is under constant scrutiny from independent industry safety advisors operating under some of the most stringent Health and Safety legislation in the world, and the course conforms fully to BS7985:2002. Wherever we work, be it Borneo or Brazil, Congo or Cuba, our safety standards go with us.

Where do CAP techniques come from?
Protocols taught represent the marriage of techniques taken from industrial rope access and arboriculture. We’ve weighed these systems in the balance through years of experience in the field and added to them with tropical forest-specific techniques. Our overriding philosophy is that every action and technique you are taught has at least one safety backup. Every activity must be planned to allow efficient rescue. We do not believe this philosophy can be compromised for any reason.

What does the Basic CAP course cover?
The rainforest canopy is a dynamic and difficult place to work. Climbing in this environment can’t be taken lightly and simply being able to climb a rope is not enough! To operate safely and effectively requires broad knowledge of the likely hazards. All of our courses are designed to provide the whole range of skills necessary to remain safe and effective in this challenging environment. We run a modular programme that can be tailor made to fit your requirements. Core techniques can be supplemented by a variety of specially designed additional module options. Our courses are designed to maximize relevance to whatever aspect of canopy work you are interested in.

A typical Basic CAP course consists of:

• Risk assessment and relevant legislation for canopy access
• Climbing equipment and inspection
• Line installation
• Ascending and descending
• Exploration and work positioning within the crown
• Ground based and aerial rescue
• Emergency procedures
• Communication
• Scientific canopy sampling protocols

GCP BCAP Courses are run by: