Overview
The role involves botanical assessment and species identification to support the National Forest Inventory, strengthen national herbarium and plant taxonomy capacity, and contribute botanical data analysis for forest monitoring and climate reporting.
Tasks Summary
- Conduct a gap assessment on national botanical assessment capacity and prepare an action plan.
- Conduct training and herbarium facility upgrade.
- Coordinate PNGFRI’s NFI implementation.
- Conduct botanical species determination and verification.
- Support and guide PNGFRI in the completion and publication of PNG Vascular plant species checklist.
- Monitor and supervise partner institution PNG Forest Research Institute.
- Prepare progress monitoring reports.
- Monitor and report financial status of funding.
- Promote local and international collaboration on botanical studies and capacity building.
- Manage NFI assets and equipment.
- Assist and coordinate NFI events.
- Assist the National Project Coordinator and Communications Specialist on NFI Awareness.
- Monitor, assist and evaluate field inventory teams.
- Conduct data analysis and produce reports.
- Perform any other duties as required.
Experience Requirements
- At least 3 years of relevant professional experience in botanical assessment, plant taxonomy, herbarium management, forest inventory or biodiversity-related research and analysis.
- Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field-based forest inventory, herbarium management, and institutional capacity development.
- Extent and relevance of experience in botanical species identification, plant taxonomy, herbarium curation and management of plant specimen collections.
- Extent and relevance of experience in forest inventory data collection, botanical database development and management, and analysis of biodiversity-related data.
- Familiarity with National Forest Inventory (NFI) methodologies, biodiversity assessment protocols, forest monitoring systems, and relevant climate reporting frameworks.
Qualification Requirements
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Botany, Plant Taxonomy, Forestry, Plant Sciences, Biodiversity Conservation or a related field. A first-level university degree with additional relevant experience may be considered in lieu of an advanced degree.
