Call for Consultancy Services: Mapping of ecosystem services, Quang Tri and Ha Tinh Province

Country:          Vietnam

Organisation:    SNV – Netherlands Development Organisation

Program:         REDD+

Projects:          Forest Certification for Ecosystem Services (ForCES)

Abstract:         Creating two spatial maps for pilot sites in Quang Tri and Ha Tinh which clearly identify key ecosystem services for the purpose of targeting activities under the ForCES project.

Duration:         will be identified based on technical proposal and agreement with the Project

I.    Background

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification has typically focused on the certification of timber products sourced from sustainably managed forests as determined by a set of principles and criteria. Under the Forest Certification for Ecosystem Services (ForCES) project, the idea of expanding FSC to include additional ecosystem services (such as carbon, water, biodiversity and others) will be tested across 4 countries; Vietnam, Chile, Indonesia and Nepal.

SNV Vietnam will implement activities under the ForCES project in Dakrong-Huong Hoa corridor, Quang Tri Province, and Huong Son, Ha Tinh Province.

A key initial exercise in the ForCES project will be to identify the suite of ecosystem services (ES) available within the pilot sites. Identifying the distribution of different ES will be important in terms of determining which ES to target under the project activities, and will be used in association with an analysis of the market demand for different ES to determine which ES will be targeted for developing a business model for each pilot Province.

This mapping working will look to be technically supported by the European Space Agency (ESA).  Some of this work also supports national efforts to prepare for REDD under the UN-REDD Programme, including work with Vietnam to support its goal of attaining ecosystem-derived multiple benefits from forests. 

II.    Objective

Using existing and available secondary national level data, produce maps clearly showing key ecosystem services in the two pilot areas, including carbon, biodiversity (using appropriate proxy measures), watershed areas and other measurable ES.

III.    Tasks

1. Access different available source data, national (e.g. FIPI, MONRE) and international (GLCF, Intact Forest Landscapes, Natural Earth, VCF, WCMC), to collect data layers which are related to forest cover in Quang Tri and Ha Tinh, forest biomass carbon stocks, biodiversity conservation value and management status. Key secondary data sources include: data made available by SNV from stakeholder assessments and consultations, Holland & McNally (2009); FIPI (2010); and JICA (2011)
2. Advise and accesses proxy data for forest biodiversity value (at taxonomic and ecosystem levels of organisation and functioning), such as protected areas (special-use forests), Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), Important Bird Areas (IBAs), ecoregion priority sites, conservation corridors, threatened taxa, taxonomic richness, etc. Key secondary data sources include: Baltzer et al. (2001); Tordoff (2002); Tordoff et al. (2007); IUCN et al. (2008a & b); WWF (2008).
3. Conduct meta-analysis of existing indicator data sets[1] (e.g. IUCN amphibian and mammal data)[2] to produce novel spatial layers of forest biodiversity
4. Create a provincial map of forest biomass carbon including as many forest carbon pools as feasible/reasonable:
   
   • Above-ground carbon estimates can be derived from national forest/land cover classes and published estimates of biomass or carbon stocks in different vegetation types in Vietnam. Where no estimates from Vietnam existed, estimates from similar vegetation type of neighbouring countries could be used
   • Below-ground biomass of different land cover type could be calculated based on ecosystem-specific conversion factors (IPCC, 2006)
   • Create forest biomass carbon density map.
5. Create functioning map(s) of Quang Tri and Ha Tinh’s other forest ES including biodiversity (highlighting conservation value and conservation management status - protected areas, KBAs, EBAs, etc.) and watershed boundaries.
6. Liaise with ESA on any and all technical matters relating to the mapping work

 IV        Deliverables

• Set of spatial maps for the two sites in Quang Tri and Ha Tinh sites including a buffer zone to allow for an analysis of the leakage risk. Maps should be based on best available data (with technical input from ESA):
• Provincial level maps of key ES, highlighting in particular the total forest biomass carbon, biodiversity values and watershed boundaries
  All datasets in relevant (ArcGIS 9.3.1) GIS format
• One set of printed maps A4 and A3 soft (picture file) and hard copies
• Technical report of mapping methods and analysis, including data/methodological limitations, and interpretation of results, following indicative content and structure as presented in existing ESA co-benefit mapping reports.

V   Timeframe

Will be identified based on technical proposal and agreement with the Project.

VI        Key secondary data sources

Baltzer, M. C., Nguyen Thi Dao & R. G. Shore, eds. (2001) Towards a Vision for

Biodiversity Conservation in the Forests of the Lower Mekong Ecoregion Complex.

World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Indochina Programme, Hanoi.

FIPI (2010) National Forest Inventory, Monitoring & Assessment Programme, Cycle 4.  Forest Inventory & Planning Institute (FIPI), Hanoi.

Holland, T. & R. McNally (2009) Mapping Potential for REDD in Viet Nam: Forest cover change, and forest carbon density.  The Netherlands Development Organisation – SNV-Vietnam Programme, Hanoi.

IUCN, Conservation International, & NatureServe (2008a) An Analysis of Amphibians on the 2008 IUCN Red List www.iucnredlist.org/amphibians. 

IUCN, Conservation International, Arizona State University, Texas A&M University, University of Rome, University of Virginia, Zoological Society London. (2008b) An Analysis of Mammals on the 2008 IUCN Red List www.iucnredlist.org/mammals.

JICA (2011) The Study on Potential Forests and Land Related to ‘Climate Change and Forests’ in The Socialist Republic of Viet Nam: Interim Report 2. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) & Department of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, Hanoi.

Tordoff, A.W., ed. (2002) Directory of Important Bird Areas in Vietnam: Key Sites for Conservation.  BirdLife International in Indochina & the Institute for Ecology and Biological Resources, Hanoi.

Tordoff, A. W., M. C. Baltzer, P. Davidson, J. Fellowes, Ha Quy Quynh & Tran Thanh Tung (2007) Ecosystem Profile: Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot - Indochina Region. BirdLife International in Indochina Programme, Hanoi.

WWF (2008) Viet Nam High Conservation Value Forest Toolkit: Version 1.4. World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Indochina Programme, Hanoi

VII      Requirements

Consultant team should have well-established experience in GIS mapping and spatial analysis in the Vietnamese forestry sector in general and biodiversity conservation in particular. Ideally experience working in REDD+, familiarity with relevant methodologies involving carbon accounting for all five REDD+ activities. 

VIII    Application

Interested parties should provide a concise proposal with:

• Brief profile of organization focusing on a review of relevant experience 
• CVs of all team members
• Briefly explain about the methodology to make biomass carbon map.
• Overview of data available and that will be used for analysis (type, date, quality, source, resolution) 
• Costed work plan broken down by activity and budget items 

Expressions of interest for this assignment should consist of a letter of interest (including an indication of your daily rate) and CV detailing experience directly relevant to this assignment. Please send expressions of interest to Vu Thi Que, Anh at AVuThiQue@snvworld.org by 5:00pm Tuesday 10 July, 2012.

[1] Including possible coding tabular data to administrative units