Internship : Spatial Visualization of Deforestation Rates

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-7UVNRJ

Internship/Thesis Geoinformatics: Spatial Visualization of Deforestation Rates(UNREDD Project)

GIS and Mapping Services for Humanitarian Organisation (CartONG)

CartONG is a non-profit organization registered in France and based in Chambery, providing information management services and GIS to humanitarian relief organizations with a specialization in the use of geospatial data for managing displaced populations.

Closing date: 31 Aug 2009
Location: Viet Nam
First half field based, second half in France/Switzerland or Germany

Deforestation and forest degradation have continued over the last decades despite all the attention and efforts to implement Sustainable Forest Management (SFM). One of the reasons for the continuation of unsustainable practices is the underestimation of the multi-functionality of forests. Most non-timber forest goods and services are not generating their potential financial value when managed sustainably because of lack of markets or other compensation mechanisms.
One of the main challenges faced by many countries in stopping forest degradation and deforestation — and in enhancing the contribution of forests to development — is the need to increase the competitiveness of SFM and generate more investment in and revenues from forests.

Forests play an important role in providing alternative sources of energy and mitigating climate change. The concept of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) is yet another recognition of the forests’ role in climate-change mitigation. REDD, irrespective of timber quality or accessibility, increases the economic value of natural forested land and thus, could lead both public and private sectors to invest in areas previously considered not commercially viable. REDD makes an important contribution to SFM through evaluating the carbon stocks of a sustainable managed forest, thus increasing their financial value and decreasing the conversion into agricultural lands.

Some countries growing tropical forests have increased their efforts in combating climate change through pioneering a new initiative called the UN-REDD Programme. This programme will support the respective countries as part of an international strategy to include REDD in a new and more comprehensive UN
climate change arrangement to kick-in post 2012. Furthermore it aims at changing the economic balance in favor of sustainable management of forests so that their excellent economic, environmental and social goods as well as services benefit countries, communities and forest users while also contributing to important
reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Vietnam is among the 14 countries which were selected within the UN-REDD Programme and has already started two pilots, one in Lam Dong province and another one in Son La province. The steps envisaged include the elaboration of national developing strategies, establishing robust systems for monitoring, assessment, reporting and verification of forest cover and Carbon stocks, and building necessary capabilities-with support to others to follow in due course.

Vietnam’s forest area increased over the last year from 9.18 Mill ha (27.2%) in 1990 up to 12.61 Mill ha (37%) in 2006. Whereas this is can be seen as an achievement, it is necessary to point out that forest gains are mainly attained by fostering plantation establishment, while exploitation and degradation of natural forest areas still continue. In the last years Vietnam made some progress in slowing down the rate of natural forest degradation. Recently, there was a reformation process in the forestry sectors, which transfers forest land from big state forest farms to households (HH) or communes. Simultaneous forest management plans for the communes/HH and trainings were provided. For further improvement, Vietnam is currently testing and analysing the potential of other ways to increase the value of the forest, e.g. Payment for Environmental Services, REDD or FSC Certification.

The role of the successful candidate will be to develop an animated application for calculating different temporal user scenarios for the REDD Pilot. Links to web sites for potential donors will need to be integrated. The application will allow for changing parameters by changing forest management strategies and therefore show the impact of Sustainable Forest Management. The tools to be used for the project are Google based. The final product will consist of kml Layers & application for visualization in Google Earth. Additionally, some capacity
building in visualization and mapping the field, especially for the local University students is required as the application will need to be updated on a continous basis by the local staff.

The categorization of forest communities and the elaboration of the calculation model will be undertaken by local project partner GTZ/GFA and the local University as well as a research institute involved in forest gains and losses modeling.

The successful candidate is a Geo-informatics or Forestry/Ecology student with a strong background in visualization, modeling, programming.

Requirements:
- Experience with GIS and Google API
- Programming language: Javascript and PHP as well as html
- Fluent in English (spoken and written); German an asset
- Flexible and be able to adapt well to different cultures and environment

A minimum 6-8 weeks of the internship will be field-based - Highlands of Vietnam with GTZ/GFA (German Developing Cooperation) as local partner; some time to be spent at the CartONG’s HQ Chambery; rest of the time the candidate is free to work from home, provided permanent internet access and reasonable distance to
allow for traveling to Chambery.

Travel costs to and within the field, as well as accommodation in the field will be covered. Additionally, the successful candidate will receive a compensation of 550 USD per month.

Starte date: As soon as possible; latest by Mid September
End date: 31 January 2010
How to apply:
Please send CV and Motivational letter to info@cartong.org

We will contact shortlisted candidates for references.

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인턴임에도 굉장히 좋은 조건을 제시하고 있다. 주당 550불에 숙박, 국내 이동경비 등.
언젠가 훌쩍 떠나버릴거야.