Senior Specialist: Land Use,Land Use Change and Forestry Inventory at Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

Requirements & Qualifications

• Master’s Degree (NQF 9) in Forestry or Natural Resource Sciences, Environmental Management or Sciences or relevant qualification as recognised by SAQA. Five (5) years’ experience in the relevant field.

Duties

• Compile Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry Inventory. Lead the compilation and annual review of the LULUCF component of South Africa’s National Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory. Identify data and information requirements for LULUCF emissions estimation. Collect, collate, and validate data for the Forest and Other Land Use (FOLU) sector. Conduct QA/QC processes and ensure data integrity and methodological consistency.
• Compile LULUCF emission inventory reports and implement GHG improvement programmes. Review Carbon Sequestration. Review sequestration submissions from GHG reporting entities for Carbon Tax compliance. Conduct research to identify other activities that needs to be subjected to carbon sequestration under the carbon tax. Oversee the independent verification scheme for carbon sequestration. Collaborate with the forestry and pulp and paper industry to improve transparency in reporting by third-party timber growers. Manage Land Mapping and Data Systems.
• Set up and operationalise a land-mapping platform to support sustainable LULUCF emissions compilation. Develop and maintain land-use change datasets and land-use change matrices. Analyse mitigation actions using geospatial and land-use data. Strengthen digital systems that support LULUCF monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV). Provide Governance and Reporting Support. Support implementation of the Climate Change Act, specifically as it relates to LULUCF and land-based emissions. Contribute to domestic and international reporting, including Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), National Communications, and other UNFCCC submissions. Support development and operationalization of standards and guidelines for the FOLU sector.