Technical Assistance for the Finalization of a Data Management and Reporting System for Participatory Forest Monitoring in Lam Dong

Technical Assistance for the  Finalization of a Data Management and Reporting System for Participatory Forest Monitoring in Lam Dong

Country:     Vietnam
Programme:     REDD+
Project:    Delivering Multiple Benefits from REDD+ in Southeast Asia (‘MB-REDD’) project
Implementers:    SNV – The Netherlands Development Organisation Investor:    German Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), International Climate Initiative (ICI)
Abstract:     Developing or adapting methodologies for forest data collection and information management, integrating with existing/evolving monitoring and inventory systems in Vietnam
Duration:    30 days
Start:     1 June 2015 – 30 November 2015
Station:    Lam Dong province

1. Background:

The Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) is implementing the Delivering Multiple Benefits through REDD+ project (MB-REDD). The project is carried out in collaboration with local government and community stakeholders in Lam Dong province.  Lam Dong is one of the first provinces in Vietnam to develop a Provincial REDD+ Action Plan (PRAP) and the MB-REDD project will assist the province in developing systems for monitoring REDD+ activity implementation and impacts using participatory approaches involving local stakeholders and communities.

As one of the key output areas of the MB-REDD project, SNV has been assisting Lam Dong province to develop a participatory forest monitoring (PFM) approach including sampling and field data collection methodologies as well as information management systems. The PFM approach developed thus far in Lam Dong aims to integrate both the measurement of changes in forest carbon stock through participatory carbon monitoring (PCM) as well as relevant biodiversity indicators through participatory biodiversity monitoring (PBM).

The PFM system intends to provide data and information on measurable changes in forest carbon stocks and biodiversity for both forest owners and provincial level agencies to track progress towards stated forest protection and development, biodiversity conservation and REDD+ goals and objectives. This monitoring scheme is developed in the context of Lam Dong’s PRAP, recently approved in January 2015. As such, the PFM pilot activities could also contribute to demonstrating how Vietnam is addressing and respecting REDD+ safeguards under the UNFCCC, in addition to reporting requirements for other provincial, national and international commitments on biodiversity i.e. to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

To date the MB-REDD project has developed a sound methodology and produced clear guidance for local forest monitoring groups and technical agencies on PCM, meanwhile ongoing work to finalise the PBM approach, methodology and indicator sets is expected to be completed later this year. Although a training course was held to instruct relevant local stakeholders and partner agencies on how to input, store, manage and report PFM data and information, there are still remaining challenges and gaps in implementation. Thus, further work is required to improve the information management system itself as well as the capacity of local partners to ensure fully functional forest monitoring and reporting systems

An improved information management system is needed to store, integrate and report data from field level up to provincial level. Such a system should serve to: i) streamline the data management workflow with an emphasis on centralized database management; ii) reduce errors in data collection through the introduction of tools for quality control; iii) standardize the reporting system by moving the analysis and reporting process to the server side; iv) promote data sharing among partners and to the public through the development of a website that connects to the database and serve information, analyses results and reports interactively to the end user and the public.

2. Objective:

To develop and deploy an improved IT system that allows Lam Dong province to collect, store, analyse and report PFM data more effectively.

3. Tasks:

The consultant shall carry out the following tasks:

Development of a methodology for PFM data collection at plot level, including, but not limited to the following sections:

• Tools to support data entry: Excel data entry form with the ability of data validation;
• Tools for quality control: open source R script to check and report error in plot level data entry.
• Contain a list of available scientific species’ names, local names and pictures of targeted forest plants and animals which are specific to each project areas;
• Plot data is stored as Excel file at forest owners and district level
• Database for central storage at provincial level:
• Database: Sqlite or PostGRE. Hosting on Lam Dong hardware or use a low cost hosting service ~ USD 500/year.
• Software tool for data management, mainly to create a graphical interface to interact with DB. The data management tool should be able to:
• Import survey plots into the database
• Edit and update plot data
• Export to various kinds of data, for instance: chart, diagram, etc.
• Export GIS data with associated information of each plot
• Back up and versioning

Statistical tool for data manipulation and analysis

• Software to use: R server and R markdown, Python
• Should enable the user to read data from the DB and generate report at several level: plot level, district level, and provincial level.

Website for data sharing

• Result from step 3 will be used as input to create interactive website for data sharing
• Main contents of the website include:
• Project documentation
• Interactive map of plots that allow user to view and discover basic information of the plot.
• Prediction (with suggestion list) of plant species based on initial input identification data (e.g. shapes of leaves, barks etc.)
• Import/display image data of forest plants and animals
• Tool to generate report at different management level. User should be able to view report online or download report as Excel or CSV file or chart/diagram or map.

Delivery of training and provision of on the job-training and technical backstopping.

• Prepare training materials
• Prepare a user-friendly manual for technical staff of PFD, forest owners on the data management system
• Implementation of training and technical backstopping

4. Timeframe:

The consultants will report to the project manager and work under the technical guidance of SNV advisors as well as collaborating with other consultants in assisting the project. The consultancy services specified in this terms of reference will be delivered between beginning 1 June 2015 to end of November 2015. The consultant is expected to work for 30 days over the period. A breakdown for the consultancy is as follows:

Team member                

• Preparation of the methodology/manual: 10 days
• Website development: 10 days
• Implementation of training of trainers: 6 days
• Technical backstopping training of villagers: 6 days
• Methodology review and report writing: 8 days

Total: 40 days

5. Deliverables:

- A detailed work plan for all training elements (preparation, implementation and evaluation), developed in consultation with local government partners and SNV advisors.
- Training materials
- A simple participatory training evaluation methodology to be applied after each training event.
- A detailed training report that should consist of:

• Concise documentation of all training undertaken
• Evaluation of the training effectiveness
• Identification of persistent capacity gaps
• Detailed recommendations for follow-on training needs

- Revised information management system methodology and manual based on the experience and lessons learnt through the training course.
- An interactive and user-friendly website for sharing participatory forest monitoring data in Lam Dong province

6. Team member requirements:

• Second degree in the fields of biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, forestry or GIS and with extensive experience of developing and using information management systems
• Excellent skills in developing information management systems for natural resource management and monitoring, using GIS software (especially QGIS)
• Experience of website development and hosting
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills
• Minimum 10 years of proven track record in providing technical advice to national systems of biodiversity and forest inventory and monitoring
• Strong knowledge of REDD+, payment for ecosystem services (PES) and other performance-based forestry financing mechanisms
• Experience with participatory approaches to biodiversity and forest monitoring, including indicator selection, data collection and management
• Knowledge of, and experience working with, existing forest inventory monitoring systems and practices in Vietnam a distinct advantage

Application:

Please send your application letter and CV, together with an indication of your expected fee rates, to Nguyen Thi Hong Hanh at [email protected] by 25 May, 2015.