Senior Forest Conservation Specialist

Organization: UNDP Saudi Arabia, through Stars Orbit Consultants and Management Development (SOC).

VA No. VA24-64

Position Title: Senior Forest Conservation Specialist
Consultancy Type: International Consultancy

Duty Station: Baljurashi, Saudi Arabia

Duration: 1 Year

Vacancy Date of Issue: 24 April 2024

Vacancy Closure Date: 1 May 2024

Expected Starting Date: 1 June 2024

This vacancy is announced by UNDP Saudi Arabia through Stars Orbit Consultants and Management Development (SOC). SOC is a sub-contractor for UNDP Saudi Arabia, assisting the programme in implementing their activities through HR and contract management of consultants working in their support.

A. Project Title:

Strengthening institutional and technical capacities of National Center for Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification.

B. Project Description:

In support of the realization of the ambitious Saudi Arabia and Middle East Green initiative under the Saudi Vision 2030, the National Center for Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification (NCVC) has been tasked with combating desertification, rehabilitating forest vegetation cover, protecting local endangered plant species and managing national parks. This project is designed to support NCVC in increasing necessary institutional, technical, and technological capacities to realize its mandate more effectively and efficiently. The enhanced NCVC capacity will be achieved through transforming information technology and digital capabilities, establishing cooperation and strengthening its network internationally; and promoting forest conservation practices, and increasing environmental awareness to ensure the long-term sustainability of NCVC activities at the policy level and on the ground. The project will support the achievement of the ambitious Saudi Green Initiative by designing a model of a tree nursery and seed bank with a road map for establishing a large-scale nursery facility to meet the Kingdom’s afforestation goals, along with aligning policy and standards of tree planting and creating a mechanism to coordinate the afforestation work among different actors. These objectives will be achieved through a whole- of-society approach, in close partnership with the private sector, academia, youth, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the long-term sustainability of the activities across the project lifecycle and beyond. This project will build upon the long-standing Standard Basic Framework Agreement (SBBA) which was agreed upon between the Kingdom and the UNDP in 1975.

The project expected outputs are:
Output 1: Strengthening international cooperation and network.
Output 2: Promoting conservation practices and strengthening environmental awareness via advocacy and outreach.
Output 3: Model tree nursery design and ecosystem conservation.
Output 4: Transformation of information technology and digital infrastructure.
Output 5: Strengthening institutional and technical capacity.

C. Scope of Work

The Senior Forest Conservation Specialist will directly contribute to the achievement of Project Objectives 3 and 5. The scope of work will include, but not be limited to, the following::

1. National Forest Inventory:

• Participate in the Forest Inventory of the Southern Provinces (Al Baha, Asir, Najran, Jazan, and Makkah) to support plant identification and ecosystem description. This includes conducting field surveys, collecting data on forest structure and composition, and analyzing the gathered information.
• Provide training for national personnel, especially the forest inventory teams, in their area of expertise. This training will cover various aspects of forest inventory, including data collection methods, species identification, and ecosystem assessment.
• Engage in the Forest Inventory across the Southern Provinces (Al Baha, Asir, Najran, Jazan, and Makkah) to aid in the delineation of plant species and description of ecosystems.
• Organize and deliver specialized training to national forest inventory personnel, enhancing their capacity in relevant expertise areas.

2. Establishment of Arboretum and Herbarium:

• Lead the establishment of an Arboretum of native species (live plants) and Herbarium (dried plant samples) at Baljurashi Forest Branch, to establish a collection of vegetation of the Sarawat mountains of Saudi Arabia, to facilitate plant identification, seed production, training and education (outreach).
• Support the landscape restoration of the Baljurashi Forest Branch area and its surroundings. This includes developing restoration plans, overseeing implementation, and monitoring progress to ensure that the restored areas meet the desired ecological objectives.

3. Forest seeds production and plant multiplication

• Provide training for national staff in native plant identification, phenology, seed and seedling production.
• Support in situ selection of plus trees for phenological monitoring and seed collection. This involves identifying superior trees with desirable traits for seed production and ensuring that they are protected and monitored throughout the seed collection process.
• Support tree seed processing, testing, storage, and developing protocols for seed processing, conducting viability tests, and ensuring that seeds are stored under optimal conditions to maintain their viability.
• Provide technical advice for plant multiplication at forest nurseries in Al Baha province.

4. Forest ecosystem restoration:

• Support the identification of priority areas for forest ecosystem restoration in the Southern region of KSA. This involves conducting ecological assessments and analyzing land-use patterns.
• Prepare technical proposals for forest ecosystem restoration using native plants, including project scope of work when appropriate. This includes developing detailed restoration plans, specifying restoration techniques and methodologies, and estimating the resources required for implementation.
• Support implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of forest restoration projects in the region. This includes overseeing the implementation of restoration activities, monitoring progress, and evaluating the effectiveness of the restoration measures in achieving the desired ecological outcomes.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

The Senior Forest Conservation Specialist will be responsible for delivering the following:

1. National Forest Inventory:

• Completion of plant identification and ecosystem description of Al Baha, Asir, Najran, Jazan, and Makkah in support of the National Forest Inventory.
• Training provided to forest inventory teams in plant identification and ecosystem description. This training will aim to enhance the capacity of national personnel in accurately identifying plant species and describing ecosystems, ensuring high-quality data collection during the inventory process.

2. Establishment of Arboretum and Herbarium:

• Establishment of at least one Arboretum/Botanical Garden of native species (live plants) and one Herbarium (dried plant collection) at Baljurashi Forest Branch, focusing on the vegetation of the Sarawat mountains of Saudi Arabia.
• Completion of landscape restoration of Baljurashi Forest Branch area and its surroundings. This will include activities such as soil preparation, planting of native vegetation, and ongoing maintenance to restore the area to a more natural and biodiverse state.

3. Forest seeds production and plant multiplication

• Training provided for national staff on plant identification, phenology, seed collection and storage, and seedling production. This training will focus on building the skills necessary for the sustainable production of forest seeds and seedlings, ensuring the availability of native plant material for restoration activities.
• Identification, marking, and protection of selected seed production trees (plus trees) for phenological monitoring and seed collection.
• Improvement of the forest nursery in Al Baha province.

4. Forest ecosystem restoration:

• KPIs for monitoring and evaluation of forest restoration projects in the region produced, as part of a monitoring system.
  Identification of priority areas for forest ecosystem restoration in the Southern region of KSA.
  Development of technical proposals for forest ecosystem restoration using native plants, including the scope of work for project development. These proposals will outline the specific restoration activities to be undertaken in each priority area, including planting schemes, habitat enhancement measures, and monitoring protocols.
  Production of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for monitoring and evaluation of forest restoration projects in the region, as part of a monitoring system. These KPIs will track the progress and effectiveness of restoration efforts, allowing for adaptive management and continuous improvement of restoration practices.

Note: The expected outputs and deliverables may be subject to adjustment and refinement during the project based on evolving needs and priorities.

Institutional Arrangement

The Senior Forest Conservation Specialist will work at the NCVC Branch of the General Directorate of Forests in Baljurashi, Al Baha province, under the overall supervision of National Project Coordinator at NCVC, and indirectly to the National Project Officer at UNDP.

Duration of the Work

• The expected duration of the work is 12 months.
• The position is anticipated to start on [1 June 2024] and end on [1 June 2025].
• The completion of deliverables and milestones will be spread out throughout the duration of the project, with specific timelines provided in the deliverables table.
• The timeline for review and feedback on deliverables will be communicated by the Project Manager at the NCVC.
• Any adjustments or extensions to the duration of the work will be mutually agreed upon by the Senior Forest Conservation Specialist and the NCVC, considering the project’s progress and requirements.

Duty Station

• This assignment will be based in NCVC’s branch of the General Directorate of Forests in Baljurashi, Al Baha province.
• UNDP will cover the round ticket to/from the duty station.
• If unforeseen travel outside the consultant’s duty station city is requested by UNDP and not required by the Terms of References (ToR), such travel shall be covered by UNDP in line with applicable rules and regulations and upon prior written agreement. In such cases, the consultant shall receive living allowances not exceeding the United Nations (UN) Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) rate for such other location(s).

Note: A written approval from UNDP and relevant authorities will be required to facilitate the consultant’s travel to any locations than stated on this TOR on official missions where necessary.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Advanced university degree (PhD) in Environmental Sciences, Vegetation, Forestry or a closely related field.

Experiences:

• Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in plant identification and multiplication in drylands.
• Previous experience in plant multiplication in dryland forest ecosystems
• Advanced certificate on Forestry or related disciplines.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in conservation, restoration and sustainable management of forest ecosystems in drylands.
• Ability to conduct applied research and produce relevant reports.
• Proficiency in training related to native plants and conservation of forest ecosystems in drylands.
• Experience in preparing documents, project proposals, and detailed reports focused on conservation and sustainable development of forests.
• Capability to work autonomously and with minimal guidance.
• Ability to meet deadlines and deliver expected results in a timely manner.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

• Familiarity with the Middle East region and understanding of its environmental challenges.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Knowledge of advanced methods and tools relevant to forest conservation.
• Ability to effectively lead and participate in interdisciplinary teams.

Language:

Fluency in both Arabic and English.