Natural Areas Management Planning

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Our community partner in Costa Rica is ASVO (Asociación de Voluntarios para el Servicio en las Áreas Protegidas). Costa Rica has over 160 parks and wildlife refuges, which are habitats for many endangered species. With such a large area of the country needing protection, and few resources to support this effort, ASVO was formed to recruit local and international volunteers to assist local leaders in activities in four major areas: control, protection, environmental education and research. ASVO focuses on conservation projects in Costa Rica's National Park system, as well as in coastal-marine areas that do not hold any official category of protection from the Ministry of Environment, but that are natural nesting sites for endangered sea turtle species. ASVO works as a bridge between civil society and the protected areas, engaging people in responsible actions in the conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of Costa Rica.

You will be working at the ASVO Buena Vista project site. Buena Vista is a small section of the Pacific Coast near the town of Samara on the Nicoya Peninsula. Buena Vista is an important nesting site with more than 100 nests per season. Coastal areas like Buena Vista are at a high risk for development in Costa Rica for tourism and other economic activities. The site currently has limited protection from development activities and is not managed directly by the government. ASVO has had an agreement with the government for the past 8 years permitting ASVO to operate a turtle hatchery on a very small section of Buena Vista. However, this agreement will expire in two years.

ASVO's long-term vision is for the site to be designated as an official natural reserve managed by ASVO. Working toward this vision, you will be working alongside ASVO staff including head biologist Roberto Solano to put together a Natural Areas Management Plan for submission as part of a proposal to the Government of Costa Rica for official designation of the Buena Vista site as a natural reserve. This will include doing a baseline description of the site (general site description, biophysical features, abiotic features, significant natural and cultural features, etc.), identifying potential management objectives and strategies for water resources, habitat quality, wildlife, vegetation and human use, and drafting strategies for ongoing monitoring and management. Your scope of work and priority tasks will be defined with ASVO head biologist; however, you will need to show a high degree of initiative in problem-solving, initiating effective communication and working collaboratively with ASVO staff at head office and on-site. The results of your work will be used in a proposal to the Government of Costa Rica for official designation of the Buena Vista site as a natural reserve. Although development of the Land Use Management Plan will be your primary focus, you can also expect to participate in some of the 'regular' volunteer activities related to the hatchery - building / repairing the hatchery, night patrols, etc.

This program is open to all UBC Vancouver students and requires specialized knowledge and invites applications from candidates in Biology, Forestry, SCARP, IRES and / or prior academic training in or work experience related to Natural Areas Management planning. Basic Spanish and a strong willingness to learn (through conversation and self-directed study) is strongly encouraged.