CONSULTANT TOR :
KARTS AND HYDROLOGY EXPERT
PROJECT ACTIVITY : Long-Term Protection of the Maros-Pangkep Karst Landscape in South Sulawesi
REPORTING : Project Manager Maros-Pangkep
BACKGROUND :
Founded in 1903, Fauna & Flora International (FFI) is the world’s longest-established international conservation organisation. Our vision is to create a sustainable future for the planet where biodiversity is conserved by the people living closest to it. We aim to do this through the conservation of threatened species and ecosystems worldwide, choosing solutions that are sustainable, based on sound science and take account of human needs. We have become a trusted entity in the world of conservation. Today FFI is active in over 40 countries.
Fauna & Flora International – Indonesia Programme (FFI-IP) established a formal country programme in Indonesia in 1996 with a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Forestry. We have since built up an extensive network of partners ranging from forest-edge communities and civil society organizations to government and private business. People are at the center of our conservation initiatives. We are at the forefront of efforts to help communities map their customary forests and gain official recognition of their right to manage these areas. FFI’s innovative approach has catalyzed change through a number of flagships programmes in Indonesia, including the community ranger initiative which has transformed former combatants, wildlife poachers and loggers into champions of the environment. We are also pioneering sustainable financing mechanisms through reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) initiatives in Aceh and Kalimantan. Our work on surveying High Conservation Value Forest has also been critical in protecting key orang-utan habitat from conversion to palm oil plantations or other destructive activities.
The Maros - Pangkep karst complex in South Sulawesi - Indonesia is a tropical karst region with the most diverse biodiversity globally. FFI-IP & LIPI has conducted a study in this area starting in 2016 with a preliminary assessment of getting 30 endemic karst cave invertebrates that could potentially be included in the IUCN red list (18 CR, 5 EN, 3 VU), as well as a large number of taxa and vertebrate species and other plants which is potentially endangered. Maros - Pangkep Karst or limestone area is only partially (± 40%) protected so that unprotected karst is currently threatened by damage from limestone mining operations operated by cement companies. Seeing this potential threat, protection through multi-stakeholder management initiatives such as the Essential Ecosystems (KEE) and Biosphere Reserves can prevent the destruction of karst areas outside protected areas in the long term.
FFI-IP will carry out projects in Maros Regency and Pangkajene-Kepulauan Regency (Pangkep), South Sulawesi, with the name of the activity "Long-Term Protection of the Maros-Pangkep Karst Landscape in South Sulawesi". This activity was funded by Halcyon Land & Sea with implementation time between October 2019 and October 2020.
The long-term project goal is effective karst biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in the Maros - Pangkep Biosphere Reserve. The immediate project aim is to protect the Karst landscape trough legal designation of the Maros - Pangkep KBA by the end of 2021 as critical ecosystem area (Kawasan Ekosistem Esensial/ KEE), as well as through international designation as UNESCO biosphere reserve, and to demonstrate responsible tourism and agricultural practices to reduce the threats to karst biodiversity
This project has three main objectives, namely:
1. Protect the Maros –Pangkep karst landscape through the designation of the Karst KBA as critical karst ecosystem (KEE) – IUCN category IV protected area.
2. Designate the wider landscape as Biosphere Reserve gazettement (with the KEE as core zones) to provide a framework for integrated conservation and sustainable development.
3. Demonstrate responsible karst & cave tourism practices, and sustainable agricultural practices to improve local livelihoods, while protecting the karst and cave biodiversity.
To carry out the project, FFI-IP will involve one karst hydrology expert who will coordinate, prepare and implement survey activities, conduct meetings and coordinate stakeholders before, during and after the activities take place.
TASK
As the background of the project presented, the task to the consultant is as follows:
• Together with relevant stakeholders to prepare a karst survey plan (exokarst and endokarst) in the project area of Fauna Flora International - Maros;
• Prepare plans for mentoring and capacity building activities for ecotourism management groups and communities around the karst region;
• Conduct surveys that cover mapping, inventory and quality assessment as well as identification of potential threats to the karst hydrological system (flooding, drought and pollution);
• Transfer knowledge and increase capacity to relevant stakeholders and the community at the local level in the form of training in responsible cave tracking and cave tourism management;
• Provide input and study related to the protection of the Maros Karst Area - Pangkep, South Sulawesi Province, specifically related to the protection of the karst hydrological system;
• Participate in outreach efforts at the local level to increase awareness regarding karst-specific biodiversity.
Skills and Experience:
1. Have a minimum of 5 years karst exploration experience, exploration experience in the Maros-Pangkep karst area and its surroundings is a priority;
2. Has experience involved in surveying karst hydrological systems covering planning, implementation and reporting;
3. Understand safety standards and be skilled in the technical aspects of cave and karst exploration;
4. Skilled in running Geographic Information System software and spatial data processing also cave
mapping systems;
5. Can carry out learning at the local level in order to increase capacity and awareness.
Output
1. Maps and karst survey data (exo-karst and endo-karst).
2. Survey reports and analysis of the potential threat of the karst hydrological system.
3. Media content awareness of the importance of karst and caves.
4. The documentation folder contains photos and videos of activities.
Time Duration: July 2020 – February 2021 (Eight month)
How to appyl
Interested applicants should send their CV/resume and Cover Letter to indonesia@fauna-flora.org no later than 15 July 2020 with “Karst and Hydrology Expert” as the subject of the email.
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified
