Overview

Summary
Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) is seeking to appoint a Global Tree Assessment Conservation Assistant to support the delivery of the Global Tree Assessment.

The post holder will be producing conservation assessments for timber species and other tree species, and support wider Global Tree Assessment (GTA) activities.

Job Description
BGCI works with partners and experts to produce IUCN Red List assessments of the world’s trees. BGCI and the IUCN/SSC Global Tree Specialist Group are committed to delivering the Global Tree Assessment – conservation assessments for all tree species by 2020. As such, BGCI has a diverse tree red listing programme. Assessments are completed for different groups of trees in partnership with identified tree specialists across the world for publication on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. A current priority at BGCI is the production of conservation assessments for timber species and compiling published conservation assessment data for our ThreatSearch database. To complete the GTA we also support multiple tree red listing projects in biodiverse regions with international partners.

BGCI’s Red List programme informs the Global Trees Campaign (GTC), a joint initiative between BGCI and Fauna & Flora International, which aims to prioritise and safeguard the world’s threatened tree species from extinction. The assessments produced by our staff and partners guides the work of GTC, enabling the protection of the trees most at risk in the wild. The completion of GTA will give an assessment of the extinction risk to global tree diversity, identifying major threats and conservation needs for the group.

BGCI is therefore recruiting a new Global Tree Assessment Conservation Assistant to play an important role in BGCI’s Red List programme, who will:

1. Produce IUCN Red List assessments of timber trees. This will include:

Assembling relevant information including maps
Contact with relevant experts
Providing feedback for GlobalTreeSearch as necessary

2. Work with BGCI and GTA partners to aid them in submission of tree assessments. This will include:

Supporting GTA partners in conservation assessments
Supporting partners in producing digital species range maps (GIS)
Assisting with organization of Red List workshops

3. Communicate BGCI’s GTA work to external audiences. This will include:

Adding content on the GTA website and social media
Compiling published conservation assessment information to be included in ThreatSearch Database
Contributing to technical reports and other reports

4. Other tasks

Show flexibility and undertake any new tasks related to the GTA that need attention

Person Specification

Essential

A BSc or equivalent qualification in conservation, environment, science or another relevant discipline
Experience of using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria
Experience of investigatory research and report writing
Self-motivated and able to work independently
An interest in plant sciences and plant conservation
Strong editing and writing skills in English
Experience in interacting with international organisations and individuals

Desirable

Taxonomic and nomenclature knowledge
Proven skills using GIS software
High proficiency in the use of MS Access and Excel
Proven record in delivering projects on time

BGCI background information
There are an estimated 2500 botanic gardens and arboreta in the world attracting 500 million visitors each year. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) is at the centre of this network. Our members include the largest, most renowned gardens on the planet – Kew, New York, Missouri, Singapore, Sydney and Shanghai –and they also include many smaller gardens situated in the world’s plant diversity hotspots. All of these member gardens share a commitment to making sure that no plant species becomes extinct and have a combined workforce of many thousands of horticulturalists and scientists working towards that end. BGCI provides support to its members in many different ways: we are an advocate for the botanic garden community, promoting the role of botanic gardens in plant conservation policy, practice and education; we connect people, co-ordinating efforts and bringing people together to exchange ideas; we are a knowledge hub, providing training, learning resources and professional support; and we provide funding and technical support to efforts aimed at saving plants.