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21 January 2008

Volunteers Needed For Savfire Vegetation Surveys 2008

The services of 3 full-time volunteers are required for detailed vegetation surveys along selected transects in the SavFIRE programme in the Satara area of the Kruger National Park From 1 April to 31 April 2008. The basis of the work will be look at the grass species composition and tree species along transects set out in the SavFIRE programme.

This is pre-fire vegetation survey, looking at the effect that the fire treatments have on the vegetation. Amongst the data that will be collected along these transects will be grass biomass using a disk-pasture meter and looking at the characterization of fuel, such as the presence of logs etc. All of the data collected will be captured using a cybertracker system. Volunteers will be trained in advance on the survey method and entering data onto the cybertracker.

  • Volunteers should be fit and healthy and able to walk in field conditions on uneven terrain and in long grass for up to 7km per day.
  • A working knowledge of different grasses will be an advantage as many grass species will need to be identified during the surveys.
  • Accommodation will be provided in the form of tents in the Skukuza research camp and volunteers must be prepared to camp with all their own equipment including bedding.
  • Preference will be given to South African graduates with savanna experience.
  • Volunteers who have been selected will be notified by mid March 2008.

Volunteers MUST be able to stay for the FULL MONTH of April as they will be trained in the field survey methods. Only volunteers that can stay for the duration of the survey will be selected.

For more information on SavFIRE programme please visit the following website: http://www.fire.uni-freiburg.de/GlobalNetworks/Africa/Afrifirenet_6f.html

Please send a detailed CV and a brief motivation as why you will be a suitable volunteer for this survey to:

Michele Hofmeyr: [email protected]

Research Manager: Science Awareness

South African National Parks

Scientific Services – Skukuza

Kruger National Park

Pvt Bag X 402

Skukuza

1350

tel: +27 (0) 13 7354240

Fax: +27 (0) 13 7354055