Internship in Latvian Fund for Nature – grassland habitat inventory and management

09.01.2020

Latvian Fund for Nature offers three internship positions for natural sciences Master students interested in working with grassland habitat mapping, inventories and monitoring, planning, and management and restoration activities in the field, and work with databases. You will have an opportunity to participate in the project GrassLIFE, which is a nation-wide grassland restoration project, dealing with EU priority grassland habitats.

Interns will be provided with the initial training in EU habitat mapping and management/restoration assessment upon starting the internship and afterwards tasked with independent work under a supervision of an experienced grassland habitat expert. The work will involve extensive field work, sometimes camping in the field, working outdoors in various weather conditions and participation in practical management and restoration activities in the field (collection of seeds, hay raking by hand, removal of shrubs etc.). We will provide interns with means of transport and will cover the transport and accommodation costs while working in the field (if those costs would not be covered by Erasmus or other scholarship).

We offer a unique opportunity to participate in the hands-on habitat mapping, inventory, management and restoration work, and become a part of a grassland restoration and management team. You will acquire practical skills in grassland plant species and habitat identification and mapping, as well as habitat management planning and monitoring.

Duration: 3 months

Period: 15 May to 15 August

Deadline to apply: 10 April 2020

Field of studies = natural sciences / agricultural sciences / geography or geology

Commitment: 4 days per week

Years of experience required: Yes

Level of studies: Master

Skills required:
Drivers licence (EU category B).
Experience with habitat mapping and inventories, preferably in the grassland ecosystems.
Familiarity with flora of the Boreal biogeographical region.
We expect our interns to be independent, proactive and good team players.
Excellent English skills are required, and a working knowledge of Latin for species identification would be an advantage.
Familiarity in working with GIS tools for habitat mapping would be an advantage.

Additional information:
The internship is UNPAID, priority will be given to applicants who are part or are planning to apply for Erasmus Plus or other scholarship.
Legal eligibility to work in the EU is a must.
Foreign students should be covered by the health and travel insurance from their home country.