Phyto Ecologist Consultant

  Lebanon Reforestation Initiative Terms of Reference Phyto Ecologist Consultant   I. INTRODUCTION Project Background Information The Lebanon Reforestation Initiative (LRI) is a Lebanese NGO registered at the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities under no. 1186 on 18 June 2014 and had started as a project launched in 2010 by the United States Forest Service (USFS) Office of International Programs (IP) through the support and funding of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).   With administrative offices in Beirut, LRI technical experts manage a multi-year program of activities throughout Lebanon in collaboration with grassroots organizations and local communities. One of the components of this project works on increasing local community resilience to climate change on sites at high risk of erosion and land sliding, following a participatory approach. Phyto ecologist Consultant   LRI is seeking the service of a phyto-ecologist to develop a customized hierarchical classification system  that  should be based on the species combination concept and should  be composed by distinct  vegetation units taking into consideration the species commonly used in reforestation. Additionally, LRI aims to organize a workshop to disseminate the results and to educate reforestation partners about the species combination concept and the importance of diversifying species.    II. PURPOSE OF THE JOB   The objective of the consultancy is to work with the project’s technical mapping staff to perform the following required tasks:   Set a list of species mostly used in reforestation in Lebanon. Delineate  sampling zones representatives of the species  identified in task 1, Conduct field visits to collect data  in compliance with the above 2 tasks, Validate existing data and review developed documents (protocols, reports, forms …), Set a list of predictors affecting the species distribution to be integrated in the modelling exercises, study the distribution of each species according to the range of predictors set in task 4  Organize a workshop to educate LRI partners and to disseminate the results. Develop a vegetation classification table suitable for species used in reforestation and applied in the mapping exercise.   III. EXPECTED DELIVERABLES TIMEFRAME The expert is expected to conduct and deliver the tasks mentioned above within 9 months starting January 2017.     IV. REQUIREMENTS The Phyto ecologist consultant should possess the following competencies, and experience: Degree in plant sciences, biodiversity, ecology, or similar field; Demonstrated experience in conducting assessments for biodiversity Demonstrated experience in native species of Lebanon   V. Contact Information Please submit your curriculum vitae by e-mail with the subject “Phyto Ecologyst Consultant”, by Firday, December 9, 2016. For further information please contact:  Lebanon Reforestation Initiative            info@lri-lb.org