Consultant: Protected Area Network Specialist

The terrestrial protected area system on the mainland of Mauritius includes two Forest Reserves, one Bird Sanctuary and fourteen Nature Reserves proclaimed under the Forests and Reserve Act; two national parks - Black River Gorges National Park and Islets National Park - proclaimed under the Wildlife and National Parks Act; and 6,553 ha of privately owned Mountain and River Reserves designated in terms of the Forests and Reserve Act. Government responsibility for the control of protected areas is divided between two sub-divisions - the Forestry Service and the National Parks and Conservation Service (NPCS) - of the Ministry of Agro-industry and Fisheries. Many conservation programs have been initiated, developed and implemented, in protected areas by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF), in close collaboration with the NPCS and Forestry Service.

The current spatial distribution and legal tenure of the existing protected area system does not adequately conserve and protect a representative sample of the country’s biodiversity (at the ecosystem, species and genetic level). Opportunities for incorporation of some private lands, which are considered ecologically important but currently excluded from the protected area system, into the PAN (Protected Area Network), and strengthening the legal tenure, are sub-optimal and undeveloped.

This PPG project intends to develop a GEF full-sized project whose objective is to build a network of protected areas which would include private lands for effective conservation of biodiversity, specifically forest biodiversity, on the island of Mauritius. The PPG project activities are; (1) assessment of terrestrial biodiversity priority areas, (2) economic valuation and financing plan for the terrestrial area network, (3) assessment of the management effectiveness, and analysis of the legal and institutional framework and development of incentive system, (4) development of IAS (Invasive Alien Species) action plan for the PAN, and (5) definition of the full sized project’s scope and strategy.

The consultant will be responsible for the followings:

• Identify specific opportunities and constraints for development of the PAN,
• Recommend international best management practices for incorporation into the PAN,
• Assess the technical feasibility of recommended project interventions,
• Assess cost-effectiveness and incrementality of proposed full-sized project (FSP) activities,
• Assess sustainability of proposed FSP activities and provide recommendations for ensuring the sustainability of project outcomes;
• Provide recommendations for capacity building planned for the FSP;
• Concretize full project logical framework and logframe indicators;
• Provide overall leadership liaising with the PAN project manager;
• Development of the full-sized project.
  

• Have at least 5 years of proven experience in managing natural resources projects or protected area management project.
• Recent Experience in the development of a GEF Protected Area Network in Southern and Eastern Africa or Small Islands Developing States (SIDS).
  

• Hold a post graduate degree in Natural Resources Management, Environmental Management, Protected Area Management, or other relevant academic and professional qualifications