Volunteer Opportunity with WCS Gabon

Volunteer Opportunity with WCS Gabon - Coastal and Marine Species Status Assessments

WCS is in the process of launching a program for the conservation of

the Congo Basin Coast (CBC) which includes the coastlines of Sao Tome

and Principe, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Republic of Congo. Our

current task is to produce status assessments for several key,

emblematic species in the region - humpback whales, Atlantic humpback

dolphin, West African manatee, Nile crocodile, leatherback turtle,

hippo and palearctic migrant birds - for which we have received a

grant from the Wallace Research Foundation. This will be conducted on

the basis of a 'gap analysis' using currently available research,

reports and studies, and subsequently designing complimentary field

studies to fill in the gaps. This project needs YOU! NOW!

The volunteer position will involve an office based stage and a field

based stage, but will be mostly based in Mayumba, Gabon

(mayumbanationalpark.com). The volunteer will collaborate with the

project director and other WCS staff to determine the method for the

gap analysis and decide the necessary information to make status

assessments. A team of WCS staff and international researchers will

be available to help design the field studies, which will be

undertaken by WCS field teams. There will be beach and boat based

surveys, and possibly also poking around in rivers looking for

crocodiles if you like that sort of thing.

The project is starting now and needs your help as soon as possible,

ideally we would have you in Gabon within the next 2-4 weeks

(depending on how long it takes to get a visa but straight away,

basically) so absolutely no later than the middle of November, 2009.

Knowledge of marine and coastal environments is desirable but not

required, a Masters level qualification in ecology, conservation or a

related subject is enough. A decent level of French is required as

the volunteer will be supervising the work of a Gabonese intern and

will also need to read reports/articles in French.

Accommodation and in country travel will be provided, a stipend for

food while in Mayumba can be discussed along with international air

fare, we are prepared to cover all costs or make a contribution

depending on how long the volunteer is prepared to stay on the

project. We are looking for a minimum of 2 months, maximum would be

until the end of the project in April 2010.

Interested applicants please send an up to date CV to me at

kknights@wcs.org asap, and describe any extras you may have like dive

licence, boat pilot licence, previous experience etc. Most

importantly state clearly when you are available and how long you can

stay.

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