Lowongan ZSL - CONSULTANT FOR FUNGI RESEARCH

The Zoological Society of London is an international wildlife conservation organization with a focus on science-based and pragmatic solutions. ZSL has been active in Indonesia for about 10 years, with a particular focus on the overlap between industrial development and biodiversity conservation. ZSL Indonesia is based in Bogor, West Java, with existing field projects in Jambi and South Sumatera. We are now looking for:

ZSL Indonesia is a highly diverse programme with projects involving climate change, public-private-people partnerships, sustainable landscape management, in addition to species conservation (namely the Sumatran tiger), protected area management, and combatting wildlife crime.

The UKCCU/NICFI Project works with the Government of South Sumatra, national and district level governments, communities and the private sector to facilitate and support the government, private sector and local communities, to establish and pilot the sustainable landscape management partnership approach in the Sembilang-Dangku landscape of South Sumatra. The proposed impact of this project is to achieve “Inclusive economic growth and community prosperity, biodiversity conservation, forest protection and restoration, and the ending of deforestation, peatland drainage and wildfires that contribute to land-based Greenhouse Gas emissions”.

We are now looking for:

CONSULTANT FOR FUNGI RESEARCH

Terms and Condition

Start Date:October 2019
Duration of Contract:5 Months
Work Area:Palembang, South Sumatera
Reporting to:Conservation Manager

Key Purpose of the Job 

The UKCCU/NICFI through KELOLA Sendang Project works with the Government of South Sumatra, national and district level governments, communities and the private sector to facilitate and support the government, private sector and local communities, to establish and pilot the sustainable landscape management partnership approach in the Sembilang-Dangku landscape of South Sumatra. The proposed impact of this project is to achieve “Inclusive economic growth and community prosperity, biodiversity conservation, forest protection and restoration, and the ending of deforestation, peatland drainage and wildfires that reduces land-based Greenhouse Gas emissions”.

Preventing peatlands from burning has been the main priority of South Sumatran government to reduce GHG emissions. KELOLA Sendang has initiated restoration of peatlands in KHG (Peat Hydrology Area) Merang-Ngirawan through the development of IWMS (Integrated Water Management System) which involves various concessions and communities within the peat hydrology area. One community group that has been accompanied by KELOLA Sendang is Gapoktan Berkah Hijau Lestari, which have obtained legal access from the GoI to manage peatland areas through social forestry scheme. The Gapoktan has now developed an agroforestry demonstration plot to revegetate the degraded areas. However, one of the challenges in revegetation of peatlands is the low adaptability of the planted vegetation to extreme peatland conditions (acidic and nutrient deficient).

Fungi is one of the biological agents that can be utilized to increase plant adaptation to extreme conditions. Some of the characteristics of fungi that play a role in plant adaptation to extreme conditions are the production of indol acetic acid (IAA) and the ability to dissolve phosphate. However, information of fungi species that can be utilized in peatland areas are very limited. Therefore, new innovations in restoration techniques are needed to restore peatlands more effectively, one of which can be obtained through the exploration of the types of fungi in peatlands. The results of this study can be used to provide recommendations to various stakeholders involved in peatland restoration.

Scope of Work

1.    Identify the diversity of fungi species in different land-uses in Sembilang-Dangku landscape, specifically peat land areas (natural peat swamp forest, burnt peat lands)

2.    Identify species of fungi that have the potential to be used as biological agents for plant adaptation to extreme peatland conditions

3.    Provide recommendations on application of selected fungi species as biological agents in peat land restoration

Deliverables

1.    Sample collection (survey) report

2.    Final draft of scientific article and recommendations


Recruitment Qualifications:

The consultant should have master’s degree of Biology  or Forestry, have proven experience with applied fungi research.


Application procedures:

The interested consultant shall submit the following documents:

1.       Cover Letter

2.       Technical proposal including the timeline, consultant profile with CV of team members,  references of min. 2 relevant experiences

3.       Financial Proposal

4.       Examples of directly relevant work with other organizations


The proposal shall submitted in English  to indonesia@zsl.org,  cc’d lydia.chandra@zsl.org,  by latest September 30, 2019 with placing the job title in the subject line . Only short-listed proposals will be notified. As received after the deadline will not be considered.