SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL PARKS (SANPARKS) VACANCIES

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BIODIVERSITY STEWARDSHIP FACILITATOR (PARK PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT UNIT)
Park: Addo Elephant National Park
 
Description:
A vacancy exists for the position of a Biodiversity Stewardship facilitator to implement biodiversity stewardship activities in the Greater Addo to Amathole Node for the GEF 7 Project "Catalyzing Financing and Capacity for the Biodiversity Economy around Protected Areas". This project is supported by the World Bank and financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The project aims "to leverage financial resources and improve capacity to implement the Biodiversity Economy and increase benefits from selected Protected Area landscapes to local communities". The project will help to transform South Africa's wildlife economy to become inclusive and sustainable, supporting land reform beneficiaries and other communities in the project landscapes.
The main purpose of this position is to enable the inclusion of biodiversity stewardship in the development plans of local communities and private landowners, as a means to expand land under conservation in the Greater Addo-Amathole Node, and to provide technical support for improved land management.
 
The position will be stationed in the Addo Elephant National Park and will report to the Park Expansion Manager.
 
Requirements:

• A recognised postgraduate qualification in biodiversity conservation; natural resource management; environmental science; or development studies.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in Biodiversity Stewardship Facilitation; and/or Agricultural Extension service provision or Environmental Management.
• Demonstrated experience in stakeholder participation and landowner engagement.
• Demonstrated experience in community-based project management and implementation.
• Demonstrated experience in landowner negotiation; conflict management and relationship management.
• Experience in environmental- and land-use management will be an added advantage; in particular development applications linked to 'reactive stewardship' or contract protected area establishment.
• Ability to speak, read and write English; fluency in isiXhosa and/or Afrikaans is an advantage.
• A valid South African resident status.
• Good report writing and presentation skills.
• Basic GIS knowledge will be an added advantage.
• A valid driver's license (Code EB) accompanied by a willingness and ability to travel (note: own vehicle required).

 
Responsibilities:

• Identify, discuss and assess options/models for land expansion through biodiversity Stewardship in communal and private land.
• Build on existing engagements that have been undertaken with landowners who have expressed an interest in having their land declared as part of the national park or supporting buffer protected areas.
• Support landowners in the project node to secure land with valuable biodiversity and wildlife habitat for conservation.
• Explore biodiversity-compatible land use options (such as game-ranching, nature-based tourism, or sustainable off take of wildlife and harvesting of medicinal plants) with landowners and communities for optimal, responsible utilization of their land.
• Facilitate the necessary legal and technical support for the signing of conservation agreements and/or the declaration.
• Negotiate management agreements between landowners that address issues of co-management and shared responsibilities between SANParks and the landowners.
• Design, implement and monitor land-use management plans.
• Establish and ensure the smooth operation of all the co-management and extension structures.
• Interact with the landowners to assist with the extension of sound biodiversity-friendly management practices to ensure the conservation objectives are met on the ground.
• Link communities to business development and capacity development support programmes of the project aimed at improving sustainable benefits from the protected area network.
• Work closely with NGO partners that may contribute to and implement other supporting projects.
• Engage relevant local and district municipalities on biodiversity and park expansion matters in the Integrated Development Plan and Spatial Development Framework, including land-use management plans of communities that may contribute to park expansion.
• Provide commenting support on identified development applications in the buffer zone of the Addo Elephant National Park that may impact the park's integrity.
• Assist in the development of strategic institutional arrangements and representative structures amongst landowners in the landscape.
• Liaise with the representative institutions in efforts to expand and consolidate the conservation estate.
• Participate in biodiversity stewardship and other development initiatives that may have an impact on the geographical area.
• Link communities with relevant structures including the private sector for support and partnership purposes.
• Participate in the capacity development processes for community stewardship, in the nodes and nationally. Share lessons learnt from the node nationally and internationally through the Global Wildlife Program - for replication and scale-up.

 
 
 

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Persons who meet the above requirements can forward their electronic applications, including a cover letter, CV and certified copies of their ID, and relevant qualifications to the following address:
Mr Thami Mohlabi
South African National Parks
P O Box 787
PRETORIA
0001
Email: thami.mohlabi@sanparks.org
 
Closing Date: 16 October 2023
 
Candidates who have not been contacted within 21 days of the closing date may consider their applications unsuccessful.
 
SANParks is committed to the principles of employment equity. Preference will be given to PDI / HDSA.