Project Associate (Ecology / Biology) – Bombay Natural History Society

Application deadline 13th July 2023

The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), a pan-India wildlife research organization, has been promoting the cause of nature conservation since 1883.

BNHS Mission: Conservation of nature, primarily biological diversity through action based on research, education and public awareness

BNHS Vision: Premier independent scientific organization with a broad based constituency, excelling in the conservation of threatened species and habitats.

Number of positions: One

Project title: Strengthening climate resilience in biodiversity & local communities dependent on high-altitude rangelands in the Indian Himalayas

Project Duration: 3 years (2023-2026; 15 months pilot phase)

Project funding: Eicher Group Foundation

Project location: Himachal Pradesh, India

Project background:
Climate change is impacting various ecosystems globally in different ways. One such important ecosystem is rangeland, on which millions of people are dependent for critical resources and livelihoods, such as water, food, livestock grazing, medicinal plants, dung, fodder and fuel wood. The rangelands are also key habitat for many of the planet’s wild herbivores and carnivores of conservation importance. Variations in temperature and precipitation, in turn, are influencing changes in rangeland vegetation, with poorly understood implications on domestic and wild herbivores. Local communities dependent on rangelands and living in close proximity to wilderness will need to adapt using locally appropriate solutions in order to achieve long-term livelihoods security. Managers and policy makers concerned with rangelands and biodiversity conservation shall need to undertake inclusive and innovative measures that ensure human – wildlife co-existence. This, in turn, shall lead to rangelands and in turn livestock productivity that will continue to support livelihoods of local people, while conserving rangelands and dependent wildlife. A long-term project to monitor climate change, changes in rangeland vegetation, livestock and wild- herbivore is proposed in Himachal Pradesh, northern India. The aim is to strengthen resilience of the rangelands and local people through community-led conservation, livelihoods improvement initiatives and capacity building. The project shall contribute to national and global efforts towards sustainable ecological and social security in the face of climate change.

Project goal: Climate resilient rangelands, biodiversity and local community in the Indian Himalayas

Project objectives:

• Strengthening climate-resilience in agro-pastoral community through conservation & livelihoods actions
• Assessing impact of climate change on rangeland vegetation
• Understanding impact of climate change on status of livestock and wild-herbivores
• Training/capacity building of local community institutions towards strengthening climate resilience

Essential qualification:

• Graduation and Post-Graduation in Zoology / Biology / Life Science / Environmental Science with a minimum of 60% marks.

Desirable Qualification:

• A minimum of two – three years of work experience after post-graduation in applied ecology, monitoring impacts of climate change on vegetation and wildlife, and related topics, preferably in the Indian Himalayas.
• Experience in sampling vegetation, wildlife species distribution and population; data analyses and visualization using statistical software (e.g. R, SPSS, etc.); and writing technical reports.
• Publications in peer reviewed journals.
• Remuneration shall be commensurate with qualification and experience.

To apply:

1. Resume highlighting educational qualification, work experience, publications, relevant awards / achievements.

2. Statement of purpose (SoP, max. 500 words) emphasizing on candidate’s relevant skill-set and how skills can be used to implement the project.

3. Peer-reviewed publications.

4. Email resume, SoP and publications as a single PDF file to cv.hr@bnhs.org with copy to a.ghoshal@bnhs.org, mentioning ‘Project Associate (Ecology / Biology) recruitment, BNHS’ in the email subject line.