Summer Internship

<p class="font_8"><strong>Key Responsibilities:</strong></p> <p class="font_7"><br></p> <p class="font_7"><strong>For Interns in Chhattisgarh:</strong></p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">· <strong>Community Engagement:</strong></p> <p class="font_8">o Build rapport with local communities by facilitating meetings and focus group discussions (FGDs).</p> <p class="font_8">o Design and conduct community awareness sessions on sustainable forest management practices.</p> <p class="font_8">o Assist in building capacity among residents to support community-driven conservation efforts.</p> <p class="font_8">o Lead Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) activities to gather insights on community needs, forest resource use, and local livelihoods.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8"><strong>· Social Science Research &amp; Surveys:</strong></p> <p class="font_8">o Conduct socio-economic surveys to understand the impact of conservation efforts on local communities.</p> <p class="font_8">o Research and document the role of gender, caste, and indigenous knowledge in forest management.</p> <p class="font_8">o Assist in designing and conducting social impact and biodiversity assessments for ongoing projects.</p> <p class="font_8">o Facilitate participatory workshops with community members to co-create conservation strategies.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8"><strong>· CFR (Community Forest Rights) Management Plan Development:</strong></p> <p class="font_8">o Collaborate with local communities to draft Community Forest Rights Management Plans, ensuring they reflect both conservation goals and local needs.</p> <p class="font_8">o Assist in mapping forest resources and customary boundaries using <strong>GPS systems </strong>as part of the CFR management plan development process.</p> <p class="font_8">o Support the documentation of traditional ecological knowledge held by local communities.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8"><strong>· Forest Surveys, Camera Trapping &amp; Conservation Activities:</strong></p> <p class="font_8">o Conduct forest surveys, document biodiversity, and assess forest health.</p> <p class="font_8">o Assist in setting up and monitoring <strong>camera traps to record wildlife activity</strong>, ensuring data is collected and analyzed to inform conservation efforts.</p> <p class="font_8">o Support plantation drives, forest restoration efforts, and other activities focused on forest management.</p> <p class="font_8">o Use <strong>GPS systems </strong>to map and monitor forest resources, trail networks, and wildlife corridors.</p> <p class="font_8">o Monitor and record changes in forest cover, wildlife sightings, and ecosystem services.</p> <p class="font_8">&nbsp;</p> <p class="font_7"><strong>For Interns in Maharashtra:</strong></p> <p class="font_7"><br></p> <p class="font_8">· <strong>Biodiversity Surveys, Camera Trapping &amp; Conservation:</strong></p> <p class="font_8">o Conduct detailed biodiversity surveys, identifying flora, fauna, and other critical elements of the forest ecosystem.</p> <p class="font_8">o Use <strong>camera traps to monitor wildlife activity</strong>, gathering data on animal movement and behavior.</p> <p class="font_8">o Map biodiversity hotspots and key conservation areas using <strong>GPS technology</strong>.</p> <p class="font_8">o Collect and analyze data on species diversity, habitat conditions, and ecosystem health.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8"><strong>· Community Engagement &amp; Livelihoods:</strong></p> <p class="font_8">o Organize community engagement activities to promote sustainable use of forest resources.</p> <p class="font_8">o Conduct Energy Profile Surveys to understand the resource collection and consumption patterns of the local communities</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8"><strong>· Gold Standard Certification Documentation:</strong></p> <p class="font_8">o Assist in preparing documentation for Gold Standard carbon projects, which aim to reduce carbon emissions while generating social and environmental benefits for local communities.</p> <p class="font_8">o Support data collection, report writing, and monitoring activities related to carbon credits and sustainable land use practices.</p> <p class="font_8">o Engage with stakeholders to ensure the certification process meets both global standards and community expectations.</p><br><p class="font_7">Skills &amp; Qualifications We’re Looking For:</p> <p class="font_7"><br></p> <p class="font_8">· <strong>For All Interns:</strong></p> <p class="font_8">o Passion for environmental conservation and community development.</p> <p class="font_8">o Strong communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.</p> <p class="font_8">o Willingness to work and stay in rural and remote locations, often in challenging field conditions.</p> <p class="font_8">o Ability to work independently and as part of a team in cross-disciplinary settings.</p> <p class="font_8">o Proficiency in conducting surveys, interviews, and other forms of data collection.</p> <p class="font_8">o Experience or interest in using <strong>camera traps </strong>and <strong>GPS technology </strong>for data collection.</p> <p class="font_8">o A keen interest in social research, community dynamics, and sustainable development.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8"><strong>· Desirable (but not mandatory):</strong></p> <p class="font_8">o Prior experience with participatory rural development methodologies (PRA).</p> <p class="font_8">o Familiarity with forest laws, CFR processes, or community-based conservation models.</p> <p class="font_8">o Fluency in local languages (e.g., Hindi, Marathi) is an added advantage.</p>