Marine Turtle Conservation Assistant
Marine Turtle Conservation Assistant
WORLD WILDLIFE FUND
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position Title: Marine Turtle Conservation Assistant
Reports to: WWF Guianas Regional Species Conservation Officer and the
WWF Guianas Conservation Director
Grade:
Location:
Date: September 2008
I. Major Duties and Responsibilities
General Tasks
The marine turtle conservation assistant will undertake monitoring and evaluation of WWF-funded Marine Turtle projects.
Marine Turtles
The assistant will focus his or her monitoring at all major turtle nesting and foraging sites and migratory routes in Suriname and when required to, in Guyana and French Guiana. The assistant will seek to ensure efficient data gathering to evaluate existing marine turtle population trends in the region; and will monitor and provide technical support to beach, market, community and sea patrols in order to evaluate and support approaches to reduce the incidents of egg poaching and to interrupt the egg trade. The assistant, under the guidance of the Regional Marine Turtle Coordinator, will conduct public awareness to raise support for, and compliance with the Suriname Game Regulations of 2002, as it pertains to marine turtles. The assistant will also tackle fisheries bycatch reduction through the promotion and monitoring of the use of TEDs in shrimp trawlers and the establishment of no fishing zones (NFZs) at the peak nesting season.
Specific Tasks
Under the supervision of the Regional Species Conservation Officer,
- Participate in annual consultations with local conservation partners in the planning and development of project proposals for marine turtle conservation;
- Monitor turtle conservation work in the field (beaches, market places, schools, communities) and evaluation of the impact of the WWF interventions;
- Provide technical support to marine turtle conservation grantees where required in the implementation of their workplans;
- Assist in the reviewing of marine turtle technical reports;
- Increase WWF presence within local communities to improve WWF understanding of socio-economic and political situations that influence community response to turtle and other priority species conservation programmes.
- Assist in the identification of suitable, alternative income generating projects for local communities to reduce their dependence on unsustainable exploitation of biological resources.
- Produce regular (monthly) communications for radio, television and newspaper on marine turtle conservation as well as the conservation of other species of conservation priority for WWF.
- Support the Regional Species Conservation Officer in the organization and implementation of marine turtle education and awareness workshops and field camps;
- Assist in the development of annual WWF Marine Turtle Conservation Field reports for circulation to stakeholders and donors.
- Assist in the production and distribution of awareness materials on marine turtles and species conservation.
- Cooperate in the development and implementation of campaigns to increase public understanding and awareness of species conservation and wildlife management issues, including marine turtles.
- Facilitate the development of Action Plans for the effective management of marine turtles and other selected wildlife species or groups of species.
- Assist the Regional Species Conservation Officer in the preparation of consolidated and detailed yearly workplans for the Species Conservation Program of the Guianas, as well as the preparation of consolidated quarterly, annual and/or special progress reports.
- Evaluate and produce a scientific paper on the population density of marine turtles in the Guianas over the last 20 years: per species, per site, per country, etc.
- Submit regularly scientific papers for international publication on the importance of the Guianas for MT and international attention : Big Hit. Concentrate on Marowijne estuary.
- Perform other duties as assigned (e.g. assisting wildlife and species conservation activities)
II. Working Relationships
1. Internal: Interacts regularly with the WWF Guianas Species Conservation Officer, the WWF Guianas Conservation Director, the Country Manager for
2. External: Interacts frequently with the wildlife management and control authorities in the Guianas and other stakeholder groups (fishers, research institutions, traders’ associations, buyers, local communities, etc.), project executants and representatives of government agencies, conservation organizations, and others involved or interested in wildlife management and marine turtle conservation in the Guianas.
III. Minimum Work Requirements
1. Knowledge: A Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, Environmental Science, or a related field.
2. Experience: Two (2) years experience working in the field of science.
3. Skills and Abilities: This position requires
¨ Efficient oral and written communication skills in English and Dutch.
¨ Good working knowledge of Surinamese is an asset.
¨ The desire and ability to work with a broad range of individuals and institutions in cross-cultural environments is essential.
¨ Willingness, ability and availability to travel into the field, both to marine turtle nesting sites but also to remote areas of the forest interior, for periods varying from few days to 3 weeks, is important.
¨ Ability to work independently.
¨ Computer skills are necessary.
¨ Preference will be given to individuals with strong interpersonal skills, flexibility, initiative, and willingness to work with and support the work of others.
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