Conserving Biodiversity and reducing habitat degradation in Protected Areas and their areas of influence
TERMS OF REFERENCE Marine Conservation Officer Project Title: Conserving Biodiversity and reducing habitat degradation in Protected Areas and their areas of influence Duration of assignment: 1 Year Start Date: 1 st June, 2017 Contract Type: Government of St. Kitts and Nevis Location: St. Kitts and Nevis Implementing Partner: Ministry of Environment Background The existing system of Protected Areas in St. Kitts and Nevis is limited to three (3) terrestrial protected area units on the island of St. Kitts; Brimstone Hill Fortress, the Royal Basseterre Valley National Park, and the Central Forest Reserve National Park and there are no terrestrial protected areas on the island of Nevis.
The recently declared SKN Marine Management Area includes the areas of Keys, Sandy Point and the Narrows. At the site level, the UNDP/GEF investment will enable the legal establishment of five new Protected Areas to be operationalized along with the two existing terrestrial Protected Areas. The project will expand the Protected Areas system from two terrestrial sites totalling 5,260 hectares to four terrestrial sites totalling 8,810 hectares and three marine sites totalling 11,693 hectares. The sites are: Central Forest Reserve National Park (CFRNP) (Established), Royal Basseterre Valley National Park (RBVNP) (Established), Nevis Peak National Park and Camps Watershed Area (NPNPCRWA) (Proposed), Booby Island Nature Reserve (BINR) (Proposed), Sandy Point Marine Park, Keys Marine Park and The Narrows Maine Park.
The project will assist the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis in establishing, staffing and equipping a Protected Areas Agency to oversee and manage the overall Protected Areas system. Project activities include a marine ecological inventory, revision and updating of key laws and regulations to support Protected Areas management; the establishment of inter-institutional and multi-stakeholder coordination and information sharing mechanisms; and the creation and operationalization of sustainable financing mechanisms. Overview Marine Conservation Officers will perform an essential service towards the optimal functioning of the marine environment. With the guidance of the Project Coordinator and direct supervision from Department of Fisheries and Department of Marine Resources, will perform monitoring, enforcement and conservation activities.
They will be responsible for collecting fees within the marine areas and implementing and monitoring marine conservation measures. The general purpose of the Marine Conservation Officers is to assist in preserving and to protect the Federation’s fragile ecosystem. Scope of Work The Marine Conservation Officer will perform the following tasks: · Monitor and assist with enforce Protected Areas Legislation and Regulations.
2 · Maintain P r ot e c te d A r ea s facilities and equipment. · Participate in the demarcation, zoning and mapping of Marine Managed/Protected Areas. · Participate in the marine ecological inventory and other research activities within marine environment. · Provide first aid assistance to persons in destress in the marine environment. · Assist with the facilitation of educational tours for residents (especially of schools) and visitors to the marine environment. · Participate in the implementation and monitoring of conservation programmes. · Participate in the demarcation, zoning and mapping of the Marine Managed Areas/Marine Protected Areas. ·
Participate in the ecological inventory and other research activities to collect data and specimen within marine area. · Participate in activities to monitor and assist in the control of invasive species. · Assist in marine search and rescue missions. · Perform documentation and reporting duties. · Participate in relevant training, workshops, job attachments and exchanges to develop capacity to enforce, monitor and conserve the marine resources. · Assist in the maintenance of safety equipment, keeping them ready and available for immediate use. · Take instructions and direction from the Marine Conservation Officer compliance with all the rules of the sea while performing your duties in a safe and efficient manner. · Collect and record fees and data associated to the marine environment using prescribed collection instruments from yachts and other marine vessels in harbours of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. ·
Liaise with the Officers in the Department of Marine Resources; Department of Fisheries, Department of Maritime Affairs; the St. Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard and the St. Kitts and Nevis Port Authorities, and other marine park management organizations in the region. · Assist in public education and sensitization programs on marine area. · Assist with the maintenance of mooring buoy systems in marine areas. · Perform any other related duties/tasks assigned by Project Coordinator consistent with the objectives and operations of the Marine Protected Areas/Marine Managed Areas. Qualifications and special skills or knowledge of Marine Conservation Officers Should have at least graduated Secondary School with passes in English A and at least Geography. Be willing to perform first aid and provide basic safety assistance, assist with search and rescue. Must hold a valid driver’s license. Basic knowledge of the marine environment. Qualification in motor vessel engineering or mechanics will be an asset.
A successful Marine Conservation Officer will be expected to participate in skills development training in the areas of Protected Areas management and planning; ecology; community empowerment, outreach and dispute resolution; communications and the implementation of financing mechanisms. Training will be primarily through on-the job training and technical workshops; work-study programs and exchange visits are also expected. 3 Remuneration Marine Conservation Officers will be awarded a (one) 1 year contract with the possibility of renewal. His/her remuneration will be commensurate based on the requirements of the job. Working Conditions The Marine Conservation Officer will be required to operate on a flexible shift system, including weekdays, week-ends and public holidays as the situation warrants. Night and early morning shifts will be scheduled on some days with due care to recuperation time. Reporting Marine Conservation Officer will work closely with the Boat Captain and Department of Marine Resources on St. Kitts and the Department of Fisheries on Nevis, and he or she will report to the Project Coordinator.
The Marine Conservation Officer will provide monthly reports to include matters pertaining to the duties outline achievements and constrains. Time sheets and other daily logs will form part of the record keeping mechanism. Languages: Excellent verbal and writing communication skills in English. Application Deadline Applications should be sent to the National Project Coordinator, Project Coordinating Unit, SKN Conserving Biodiversity Project, Department of Environment, Third Floor, Ursula Amory Building, New Street, Basseterre, St. Kitts or Email: sknprotectedareas@gmail.com by Tuesday 16 th May, 2017.
Protected area units on the island of St. Kitts; Brimstone Hill Fortress, the Royal Basseterre Valley National Park, and the Central Forest Reserve National Park and there are no terrestrial protected areas on the island of Nevis. The recently declared SKN Marine Management Area includes the areas of Keys, Sandy Point and the Narrows. At the site level, the UNDP/GEF investment will enable the legal establishment of five new Protected Areas to be operationalized along with the two existing terrestrial Protected Areas. The project will expand the Protected Areas system from two terrestrial sites totalling 5,260 hectares to four terrestrial sites totalling 8,810 hectares and three marine sites totalling 11,693 hectares.
The sites are: Central Forest Reserve National Park (CFRNP) (Established), Royal Basseterre Valley National Park (RBVNP) (Established), Nevis Peak National Park and Camps River Watershed Area (NPNPCRWA), Booby Island Nature Reserve (BINR), Sandy Point Marine Park, Keys Marine Park, and The Narrows Marine Park. The project will assist the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis in establishing, staffing and equipping a Protected Areas Agency to oversee and manage the overall Protected Areas system.
Project activities include a marine ecological inventory, revision and updating of key laws and regulations to support Protected Areas management; the establishment of inter-institutional and multi-stakeholder coordination and information sharing mechanisms; and the creation and operationalization of sustainable financing mechanisms. Overview Under the guidance of the Project Coordinator the Boat Captain/Conservation Officer forms an integral part of the functioning of the Marine Managed/Protected Areas.The Boat Captain/Conservation Officer will be based at the Department of Marine Resources on Kitts and the Department of Fisheries on Nevis. A monitoring vessel will patrol the Federation’s marine space to ensure compliance with the environmental management laws, policies and conservation strategies for the sustainable use of the marine resources.
The Boat Captain/Conservation Officer is responsible for the safe, efficient operation and maintenance of the vessel, protection of the environment, and the safety and conduct of the crew and passengers on the vessel. Scope of Work 2 As part of the project, two Boat Captains/Conservation Officers, one for St. Kitts and one for Nevis, will be recruited to operate a 33ft Mercury Verado 200 HP OBM boat complete with standard accessories, remote control mechanism, control cables and attachment. The Boat Captain/Conservation Officer’s primary function is to operate and maintain the boat.
However, when he or she is not performing the primary functions, he or she is expected to engage in conservation activities. Boat Captain’s Tasks · Ensure that the vessel is maintained and safely berth at the end of each shift. · Maintain all safety equipment, keeping them ready and available for immediate use. · Inspect and keep a daily log of the vessel’s engine and navigational equipment. · Support the operations of Marine Conservation Officers and staff when Arrange for the boat to be cleaned, fueled and restocked with necessary supplies and or repaired. · Navigate and operate the vessel, ensuring that only qualified personnel operate the equipment on board. ·
Maintain records of daily activities, boat positions and movements, weather and sea conditions as well as the activities of crew or passengers · Support the staff who will monitor and enforce Protected Areas Legislation and Regulations · Support staff with the maintenance of mooring buoy systems in marine areas. · Provide first aid assistance to users of the marine areas. · Assist in marine search and rescue missions. Conservation Officer’s Tasks · Monitor activities in Marine Protected Areas / Marine Conservation Zone Areas · Support the implementation and monitoring of conservation programmes; · Facilitate and participate in activities demarcating, zoning and mapping of the Marine Protected Areas / Marine Conservation Zone Areas . · Facilitate and participate in marine ecological inventory and research activities · Support activities and programmes to monitor and control invasive species. · Assist with sharing information about the marine environment; · Maintain records and logs of daily activities. · Participate in relevant training, workshops, job attachments and exchanges to develop capacity to enforce, monitor and conserve the marine resources. · Liaise with the Officers in the Department of Marine Resources; Department of Fisheries, Department of Maritime Affairs; the St. Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard and the St. Kitts and Nevis Port Authorities, and other marine management organizations in the region. ·
Perform other related duties/tasks assigned by Project Coordinator consistent with the objectives and operations of Marine Protected Areas / Marine Conservation Zone Areas. Qualifications and special skills or knowledge of Boat Captain/Conservation Officer Must have a current Boat Captain licence with at least five (5) years’ experience as a captain. 3 Must have knowledge of the working mechanism of a marine engine. PADI certification will be an asset. A successful Boat Captain/Conservation Officer will be expected to participate in skills development training in the areas of Protected Areas management, conservation and planning; marine ecology; community empowerment, outreach and dispute resolution; communications and the implementation of financing mechanisms.
Training will be primarily through on-the-job training and technical workshops; work-study programs and exchange visits are also expected. Supporting Documents A Captain License,. A valid driver’s license. Two recent letters of reference. A Police Record. A Curriculum Vitae. Working Conditions The Boat Captain/Conservation Officer will be required to operate on a flexible shift system, including weekdays, week-ends and public holidays as the situation warrants. Night and early morning shifts will be scheduled on some days with due care to recuperation time. Remuneration Boat Captain/Conservation Officer will be awarded a one (1) year contract with the possibility of renewal. His/her remuneration will be commensurate with the requirements of the job. Reporting Boat Captain/Conservation Officer will work closely with the Department of Marine Resources on St. Kitts and the Department of Fisheries on Nevis and report to the Project Coordinator.
The Boat Captain/Conservation Officer will provide monthly reports to include matters pertaining to the operation and maintenance of the vessel giving details of all incidents, accidents, constraints and achievements relating to the vessel, equipment, members of staff. Time sheets and other daily logs will form part of the record keeping mechanism. Languages: Excellent verbal and writing communication skills in English. Application Deadline Applications should be sent to the National Project Coordinator, Project Coordinating Unit, SKN Conserving Biodiversity Project, Department of Environment, Third Floor, Ursula Amory Building, New Street, Basseterre, St. Kitts or Email: sknprotectedareas@gmail.com by Tuesday 16 th May, 2017.