Expert on Community Forest Management - Regional Environmental Center for the Caucasus - Yerevan

JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Expert on Community Forest Management Pilot Plans Development will be working under the direct supervision of the Project Team Leader and in close cooperation with the Project Team and with teams of other countries-participants of the project.

Pilot plans will be developed with participation of stakeholders and will include (but will not be limited) the following: the current state of pilot sites, compartment based inventory and forest assessment, forest maps made up with GIS, the socio-economic and biological background information, administrative and institutional facility management, a legal status, ecologically vulnerable areas, recreational zones and an infrastructure, forest use and wood utilization schemes, plans for construction and maintenance of roads, on protection, conservation and restoration of forests, plans on use of collateral and secondary forest resources, the program of development of the small processing enterprises of forest production, actions on raising sustainability, monitoring plans and an evaluation of realization of the management plan, the equipment, the list of staff and the budget, etc. In case of need, an environmental impact assessment will be applied on plans. The plan should be made according to the requirements of legislation of RA.

Outputs:
- Selected pilot regions for community forest management planning;
- Developed management plan;
- Raised local stakeholders potential by their participation in planning process;
- Created potential for community forest management;
- Increased forest protection (conservation of biodiversity, forest resources and etc., for the local community sustainable development);
- Developed amendments to the national legislation concerning community forest management;
- Adapted model of the regional guideline (National Instructions/ guidance) in accordance with the legislative requirements of RA.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop management plan and actions on sustainable forest utilization;
- Be responsible for introducing and training of pilot rural areas with the components of practical forest management people;
- Organize seminars for local planning group in pilot areas;
- Provide assistance to the selection of pilot communities and forest areas, for the further transferring of forest resources management to the local communities;
- Define the pilot areas’ borders for the development of pilot plans on community forest management and for collection of the information;
- Organize working groups, prepare ToRs’ for the planning and information gathering personnel;
- Organize the field planning works, inventory and assessment of forest resources and biodiversity;
- Prepare management plan and forest maps;
- Prepare action plan on sustainable forest utilization, including the socio-economic data, collateral, secondary forest use and recreational potential;
- Participate in forest rehabilitation design development;
- Participate in the trainings on planning and development of the potential for the forest rehabilitation project implementation;
- Be responsible for public discussion, the coordination and adoption of the pilot community forest management plans;
- Be responsible for technical control of the reforestation works;
- Provide assistance to the legal expert, participate in the analysis of laws and regulatory acts concerning forest resources management at the national level;
- Participate in the development of practical guidance/ National instruction on sustainable management of the community forest’s;
- Develop the amendments to the national legislation concerning community forest management.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Advanced university degree in forestry (preferable with experience in the planning of the community forests and natural resources management);
- At least 5 years of working experience in the relevant sphere;
- Good knowledge of the sector and environmental problems;
- Knowledge and understanding of key issues on sustainable forest management;
- Ability to travel across the region and abroad when required;
- Experience of working with governmental structures, local administration, donor organizations, non-governmental organizations and private sector;
- Good organizational and interpersonal skills, high sense of responsibility;
- Ability to clearly express ideas in oral and written forms;
- Good interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to establish and maintain working relations in a team;
- Proven excellent experience of working with computer and office equipment;
- Good knowledge of Armenian and Russian languages.

REMUNERATION/ SALARY:
Negotiable. Contract on rendering of services (service contract).

APPLICATION PROCEDURES:
Interested applicants should submit a current
CV and Cover Letter explaining their motivation to the attention of REC Caucasus Armenian Branch Office by email to: tatev.zadoyan@rec-caucasus.am ,
or to the following address:
1, Charents Street, 2nd floor, 375025 Yerevan, Armenia. Please mention in your application the title of the position you are applying for. Only shortlisted candidates will be interviewed.