GIS specialist/wildlife technician

Project Name: Nepal Wildlife Conservation

Website: Community Conservation

Project Location: Nepal

Volunteer Type: Remote

Time commitment: ~5-10h/month, duration minimum of 3 months, possibility of field work for right candidate, time commitment to be negotiated

Number of positions available: 2

Primary tasks:

• Develop and implement a workflow to store, organize, analyze, and summarize camera trap data using software designed for these purposes (e.g., camtrapR, a free and open-source R package)
• Using GIS software, plot and display species distributions, activity patterns, and associated metadata in publicly accessible formats suitable for publication and dissemination.
• Disseminate the study’s findings to local communities that are managing the habitats.
• Recommend improvements in technology and methodology for future research and implementation.

Overview: 

EcoWB is seeking a couple of volunteers to assist on a wildlife conservation project in Nepal (South Asia) that is currently being conducted by our partner, Community Conservation (CC), a like-missioned non-profit organization. The volunteer work involves analyzing pictures of wildlife taken by motion-activated trail cameras in several community forests in eastern Nepal, and interpreting and conveying project information via printed and electronic media. It is especially important that we share our findings with residents of communities found in proximity to the camera trapping sites.

The selected volunteers would be able to apply and expand their ecological knowledge and skills to support CC’s efforts to conserve Nepalese wildlife and associated forest ecosystems. If you have experience working with camera trap data and analytical methods, including techniques for detecting and identifying animals in images, and would like to learn more about this volunteer opportunity, go here. The position will remain open until one or two qualified individuals are found. Thank you for responding to this solicitation.

Project background:

The objective of this collaborative project is to fill important data gaps concerning the presence and distribution of wildlife in southeast Nepal, with the long-term goal of ensuring that wildlife species are protected and that human activities do not adversely affect habitats, prey resources, etc. that are key to their survival.

The project sponsor, Community Conservation (CC), set up camera traps last year on forest trails known to be frequented by wildlife. Approximately 35,000 photos were taken in 14 community forests. Depending on information gleaned from these photos, we anticipate taking an even greater number of photos in the future. An efficient methodology and dedicated workers are needed to extract full value from these data.

Advanced Intermediate Spanish language skills highly desired.

Desired qualifications:

• Knowledge of statistical methods for analyzing behavior and spatial distribution patterns
• University degree or equivalent experience in GIS and remote sensing
• Strong analytical skills with wildlife, attention to detail, and a willingness to learn
• Strong communication skills in a remote environment

Deliverables and results:

• A detailed ArcGIS map of the land
• A geodatabase with raster math products
• Complete training for at least one staff member on use of products and how to conduct the analysis

To apply please email your resume/CV and a brief statement on why you are interested in the position to: trevor.eakes@ecowb.org & cleve.stewart@ecowb.org.