Consultant/Specialists on Biodiversity , Tanzania

Diagnostic analysis/review of land management effects on biodiversity with a focus on agro-biodiversity in diverse land use systems and development of an action plan for Kagera TAMP and other stakeholders interventions for enhancing conservation and sustainable use and improving livelihoods and resilience in the Kagera basin in Tanzania.

Duties and responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of the national project manager (NPM), technical supervision of the lead technical unit in FAO Headquarters, and administrative supervision of FAO Representative, the national consultant(s) with forest and pasture ecology, crop and livestock expertise will carry out the following tasks: Collect and analyse conservation and management strategies for harvested and wild crop, livestock and associated biodiversity in productive systems in Tanzania, witl) a focus on the districts ofBukoba, Missenyi and Karagwe in the Kagera region, in collaboration with the District project facilitator (DPr=) and NPM. Establish relationships (positive and negative) between (agro)biodiversity and land degradation (fire, soil and water degradation, land conversion (e.g. encroachment of agriculture causing loss of grazing land or deforestation), exploitation of firewood and other products, loss/degradation of harvested and wild genetic resources), climate change, and food security (CS?) and prepare and submit a report to the NPM for initial clearance and to the L TU and FAOR for technical clearance and payment. In particular the consultant(s) should review and report on the following aspects:

Analyse how crop, livestock and associated biodiversity and related local knowledge systems influencerurallivelihpods and how benefits of its conservation and sustainable use are shared amongst rural communities (Is this equitable, especially in regard to the poor and the disadvantaged?)

Establish the level Of awareness and knowledge of the importance of (agro)biodiversity in SLM and smallholder rurallivelih s improvement with references from existing government and community strategies to conserve and sustainably manage biodiversity and natural resources in Tanzania and specifically in the Kagera basin of Tanzania;

Conduct a review on the effects of land management practices on below-ground (soil) and above-ground biodiversity (biomass) under each of the main land use types in the Kagera basin: i)Coffeelbanana farming system; ii) Livestock and pasture management; iii) natural and planted forests and iv) buffer zones in Karagwe, Bukoba and Missenyi districts; For each system document biodiversity enhancing technologies for promotion and dissemination to other areas; Evaluate to what extent land management (good and bad practices) affects species and varietal diversity, species richness, frequency and abundance, in each of the above land use types, indicating the most degrading practices and the most effective management practices and the most vulnerable species /varieties and their effects on human livelihoods;

Document farmer innovations and government technologies on the ground to conserve and promote managed and wild biodiversity including strategies for equitable sharing of benefits from conserved and sustainably used (agro)biodiversity.

Document community and government strategies to control bio•prospecting and piracy of national biodiversity of global importance and their knowledge and enforcement in the Kagera basin; emphasizing on incentive mechanisms (such as identification of new products and markets, introduction of supportive policies) for conserving biological diversity in SLM

For each of the main land use types in the Kagera basin, identify with communities the extinct, endangered, gradually decreasing and stable species with reasons and current coping strategies

Establish relationships between biodiversity (in planted and wild environments) and resources endowment of land users and the extent to which conserved biodiversity benefits the land users especially the poor and disadvantaged;

Review occurrence and causes of pest and disease incidences under the above land use types and how these affect and are affected by biodiversity and identify biodiversity management strategies that are potential in controlling the most serious pests and diseases with special attention to bananaxanthomonas wilt (BXW), coffee wilt disease (CWD), banana nematodes and cassava mosaic disease (CMD); livestock pests and diseases (to specify) soil biota and pollinators and associated pests and diseases (e.g. bee mites; soil pests, etc.)

Establish existing impacts of climate change in the project districts and implementation areas on (agro) biodiversity (natural vegetation, crop species and varieties, livestock breeds, soil biota (e.g. biological nitrogen fixers; earthworms; mycorrhiza) including associated soil and crop pests and diseases, with recommendations on climate resilient land or other management technologies for improvement byKagera TAMP and other stakeholders in the Kagera region

Principal results/performance indicators:

A concise technical report including.

Review of knowledge and practices on the ground by communities and government on (agro)biodiversity (A-BD) conservation and sustainable use;

Summary of impacts on (A-BD) of different land use types and management practices, with examples for dissemination (if any);

Case studies of land management practices with positive and negative effects on different components of A-BD

Examples of farmer innovations and government initiatives to conserve and promote managed and wild A-BD

A list of extinct, endangered, gradually decreasing and stable species with reasons for decline and coping strategies

Existing relationships between A-BD and different resource categories of farmers and how these categories benefit from the conserved and managed A-BD

Established causes and effects of pests and diseases on A-BD and examples of control/management measures

Evidence of climate change (CC) in the project districts and sites and how it affects A-BD with recommendations for improved resilience

Recommendations on government policies supporting agro biodiversity including e.g. farmer incentives, capacity building, information flow/communication etc 10. Proposed actions for KageraTAMP for promoting agro biodiversity under the watershed management systems

Duty station:Bukoba, Missenyi, Karagwe and Ngara Districts.     

Duration: 40 days

Qualifications and experience:

Highly qualified, preferably University Masters Degree in botany, agronomy, ecology, forestry, livestock production or other related fields

At least 5 years of experience in biodiversity in agriculture/production systems (e.g. plant, livestock and tree breeding; agro biodiversity conservation and sustainable use)

Competent in questions related 10 in-situ and ex-situ conservation of plant biodiversity, ethnobotany,

Familiarity with the conduct of similar studies in other areas of Tanzania

Fluent in Kiswahili, English and vernacular as additional advantage

Application Instructions:

Applications should be sent with a detailed CV and Personal History Form to:

FAO Representative

SIDA H, Ada Estate

Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road Opposite DSTV Office

P. O. Box 2 Dar es Salaam

TANZANIA

Email: FAO-TZ@fao.org  and copy to: fidelis.kaihura@fao.org