Hiring Organization:
Gola Forest Programme
Date Posted:
2008-08-01
Position Description:
A volunteer field biology position is available at the Gola Forest Reserves, Sierra Leone. The Gola Forest Reserves, located in southeastern Sierra Leone, are managed by the Gola Forest Programme (GFP), a partnership between the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL), and the Government of Sierra Leone. The Gola Forest is part of the Upper Guinea Forest Region, a “biodiversity hotspot” and thus contains a high level of species diversity and endemism. The GFP has over 100 staff, including a Research and Monitoring department. Research in Gola focuses on documenting the distribution, abundance, and ecology of flora and fauna in the Reserves, focusing on endemic, vulnerable, and endangered species. The forest contains a wide variety of interesting and eclectic animal species such as Jentick’s duikers, pygmy hippos, western chimpanzees, bongo, forest buffalo, the white-necked picathartes, and 10 species of primates.
The Gola forest is home to two endangered monkey species: the Western red colobus monkey (Piliocolobus badius) and the Diana monkey (Cercopithecus diana). The ability to aid in their conservation is partially reliant on knowledge of their patterns of abundance and distribution as well as their habitat requirements. One way to better understand these facets are to conduct studies on their feeding and ranging behavior. In response to those needs, the GFP has initiated a monkey ecology project.
Position duties:
The volunteer(s) would be expected to commit to one year with the project, and will be in the field for the majority of this time. Duties will include:
●Assisting in habituation
●Collecting data on diet and ranging behavior
●Collecting data on Diana monkey seed dispersal behavior
●Writing weekly reports
●Training local staff in data collection
●Taking part in a chimpanzee survey scheduled for late 2008 to early 2009 and/or
●Taking part in a monkey survey of the entire Reserve, scheduled for early to mid 2009
Habituation and data collection will be conducted with one or more of the following people: a GFP research technician, a local field guide, a Sierra Leonean student.
Qualifications/Experience:
Position requirements :
-Bsc in zoology, biology, environmental studies, or other related discipline
-Previous field experience, especially in biological data collection
-Previous experience working in a developing country
-Previous experience studying primates advantageous, but not required
-Candidate must be physically fit
The idea candidate will:
·Be extremely responsible, organized, and motivated
·Be able to work independently but also as part of a team with local staff
·Have a keen interest in all aspects of tropical biology and be willing to learn and exchange knowledge with local staff
·Be able to live in basic conditions
·Be considerate to local culture
·Be committed to conservation
This is an excellent opportunity to gain experience for graduate school and/or make a contribution towards conserving Sierra Leone’s wildlife, which has received little attention until now due to the previous civil war. Opportunities to conduct small, independent thesis projects are possible, but the habituation and data collection for the GFP monkey ecology project takes priority. A potential thesis project must have an ecological or conservation emphasis, the candidate must be able to demonstrate it will not interfere with job duties, and it must be approved by the GFP.
Salary/funding:
-Modest monthly stipend
Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
-One roundtrip airticket, to be reimbursed after completion of the contract
-Transportation to and from Freetown for airflight
-Housing while in the field and simple accomodation in Kenema, our office headquarters
The successful candidate will be responsible for:
-Health insurance with emergency evacuation (REQUIRED)
-Necessary vaccinations
-Sierra Leonean visa
Term of Appointment:
one year
Application Deadline:
15 September 2008
Comments:
If you are interested in this position please email a curriculum vitae with the names and contact details of 3 references and a covering letter to Dr. Jessica Ganas, Superintendent of Research and Monitoring, Gola Forest Programme (jessica.ganas@rspb.org.uk) before 15 September 2008.
Contact Information:
Jessica Ganas
133 Dama Road
Kenema
Sierra Leone
Telephone Number:
232 (0)76 271 091
E-mail Address:
jessica.ganas@rspb.org.uk