Senior Officer (Forests & Climate Change)

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Terms of Reference for Consultant/PSA
Job Title
International Consultant
Division/Department
FOM/FO
Programme
Forests and Climate Change
Location
Home based
Expected Start Date of Assignment
April 18 2011
Duration
2 months
Reports to
Susan Braatz
Title:
Senior Officer (Forests & Climate Change)
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF TASK(S) AND OBJECTIVES TO BE ACHIEVED
Background
Forest management decisions made now could affect forests many decades into the future. Thus it is important for managers to take account of how forests may respond to future climatic conditions. Because it is difficult to predict with accuracy what the climate will be at a specific location and time in the future, it will be important that forest managers give greater weight to risk management measures and allow greater flexibility for adjusting forest management plans and practices. Some forest managers will be in a position to capture emerging incentives for forest-based mitigation (e.g. REDD+), and will change their forest management plans and practices accordingly. In assessing adaptation options, forest managers may wish to consider their relative contributions to climate change mitigation, and vice versa, then choose management options that have synergistic adaptation-mitigation benefits. Forest management decisions related to mitigation and adaptation will have to be considered within the larger context of other management objectives for the site including changing social and economic conditions and other values placed on forests by society.
FAO is developing guidelines to assist forest managers to respond to climate change challenges and opportunities at the forest management unit level. These guidelines will be relevant globally, and apply to all types of forests (boreal, temperate, tropical), for all management objectives (production, conservation, protection and multi-purpose) and by all types of managers (public, private and community). To facilitate the development of the guidelines, a background paper will be prepared to review current understanding of climate change impacts on forests and forest management; to assess the capacity and associated needs of forest managers and forest management institutions and agencies to respond to climate change; and to determine if and how forest management is changing or could change in order respond effectively to climate change challenges and mitigation opportunities. The background paper (50 pages) will be informed by a survey of forest managers to determine their perception of factors that contribute to, or limit the ability of forest management and forest managers to prepare for/respond to climate change.
Tasks
The consultant will prepare the background paper under the overall guidance and technical supervision of the Senior Officer, Forests and Climate Change.
The specific tasks are as follows:
→ Review and analyze the literature on key climate change impacts on forest ecosystems (8 pages)
→ Evaluate the new challenges, opportunities and constraints posed by climate change to forest management (8 pages)
→ Assess the ability of forest management to adapt to and/or mitigate climate change (including examples of current country responses) (10 pages)
→ Identify if and how forest managers are adjusting their management practices to accommodate climate change considerations and what changes they might make in the near and medium term (10 pages)
→ Identify gaps in knowledge required for adequate management responses to climate change (8 pages)
→ Prepare a document in English of about 50 pages (including the list of references cited and annexes) and submit it in Word in electronic copy
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Expected Outputs:
1) Outline of background paper
2) First draft of background paper
3) Final draft
Required Completion Date:
April 29 2011
May 20 2011
June 1 2011
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES
Academic Qualifications
Advanced University Degree in Forestry or related subject
Technical Competencies and Experience Requirements
Experience in forest management and climate change including international experience. Working
knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two.