WWF Project: Protect the last free ranging leopards in Europe (Southern Caucasus) Activity 5.1
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Hirkan Forest Book (hiring a biologist)
This project has been elaborated based on the promising results of the leopard conservation project conducted during July 2016 and December 2019. Due to an improved systematic wildlife monitoring set-up, during this period 18 different individuals have been reported in the project area (eight males, six females and four sex unknown). In mid-2019 still ten individuals were identified and one cub with unknown sex recorded. Some of the identified individuals must have left the project area during the project duration or died. Most important for a long-term recolonization permanent presence of males and females and finally three reproduction evidences have been proofed. Beside that prey species population, in particular Bezoar Goat, has been increased significantly (appox. 20% within the past 10 years).
An important outcome of the previous project was the deep involvement of the local population thorough the leopard caretaker networks. These groups play an important role in the successful long-term protection of leopards, as they are the link between the project and the local communities. Within this follow-up project we will continue this overall approach with particular focus on the main target group, the local population: This will be mainly achieved through: (a) participation in the selection and implementation of measures to reduce HCW (reduction of economic damages); (b) participation in the leopard caretaker network, and (c) awareness raising activities with a main focus on schools, schoolchildren, their teachers and parents, and (d) support to Community based Conservation Areas.
The preparation of the guide book aims to increase general knowledge of local community about forest plants found in Hirkan forests. It will provide general information about trees, shrubs, wildflowers, grasses, ferns, mosses and lichens. This guide book simply and concisely gives the basic information to nonprofessional “botanist”. With this guide book it will be easy to respond frequent question about name and species of plants found in Hirkan.
The objectives of the guide book are:
This scoping study would contribute to the fulfilment of the Objective 5: 70% of the inhabitants of the project target communities and the border police support activities for leopard conservation.
The guide book should clearly define forest plants found in Hirkan forests and describe the importance of identified forest plant species and demonstrate with color photos common forest plants of the area. This guide book simply and concisely gives the basic information to nonprofessional “botanist”. With this guide book it will be easy to respond frequent question about name and species of plants found in Hirkan forests. For aforementioned purposes the Consultant should identify common forest plant species found in Hirkan, describe the importance of identified forest plant species and guide to illustrate identified forest plants in colored photos.Color photos will show overall appearance including bark, branching, patterns, leaf, fruits, flowers of all identified species in spring, summer, fall and winter.
The duration of the assignment is approximately 100 working days, including 50 working days dedicated to forest plant monitoring and to illustrate identified forest plants in different seasons within the period of one year. Work will start in April 2021. The consultant shall propose a budget that covers preparation and publication of the Hirkan Forest Book. The guide book about forest plants found in Hirkan forests will be prepared and published in Azerbaijani language. WWF Azerbaijan will be responsible for distribution of the guide book to the local communities that are in or near by Hirkan National Park.
The consultant should send a plan to WWF Azerbaijan within approximately 20 days from the beginning of the assignment. The plan should describe technical specifications, the flow of content and design, how the study of the Hirkan forests will be conducted, including a tentative schedule for all activities in short given amount of time. The Final Draft of the guide book will be prepared within approximately one year from the beginning of the assignment. All products should be sent to Konul Ahmadova, Project Coordinator WWF Azerbaijan ([email protected]).
WWF Azerbaijan will provide feedback to the consultant within five working days after receiving each product. If no response is received by the consultant after the expiration of this period, the product will be deemed as accepted, unless a written request is provided to allow for a few more days for the revision. The comments and requests for further information/corrections should be addressed by the consultant in a timely manner. After the satisfaction of WWF Azerbaijan with the quality of the products (clearly expressed in a written form), the consultant may complete the remaining parts of the work. Only after the formal acceptance of the Final Product by WWF Azerbaijan (by signing the acceptance form by both parties) can be considered as completed.
WWF Azerbaijan will provide all information available at their office, which might be useful for the completion of this assignment, free of charge. WWF will assist the consultant in organizing his/her travel to the Hirkan National Park. In addition, WWF Azerbaijan will assist in organizing and will fully cover the costs of the travel to the Hirkan National Park.
WWF Azerbaijan (represented by Konul Ahmadova, Project Coordinator) will be responsible for coordinating the consultant’s work. The consultant is directly accountable to WWF Azerbaijan and should send all applicable products to the latter. WWF Azerbaijan is authorized to evaluate the consultant’s products and either accept them or require further updates.
72 announcements
