[enviro-vlc] Internship/Thesis Geoinformatics: Spatial Visualization of Deforestation Rates (UNREDD Project)

[Vern Weitzel]

Thanks, Patrick, for providing the link this item!!
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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 at cartong.org

We will contact shortlisted candidates for references.
Reference Code: RW_7UVMS5-41