Marine Biology Specialist for baseline analysis on Deep-sea ecosystems and research design for the Caribbean Biological Corridor

Result of Service

The consultant is expected to comply and deliver the following: • Activity 1: Using existing information prepare a description (including maps) of the main subregions, geomorphic features, and oceanographic characteristics of the deep-sea and offshore waters of the CBC countries in coordination with the CBC Secretariat and UNEP Team. • Activity 2. Carry out bilateral consultations with experts, and other key stakeholders as needed to complement, and/or validate findings of the desk review, identifying the status of existing knowledge, main information gaps, status and threats and research needs on deep sea ecosystems in the CBC marine area. • Activity 3. Develop a desk review on the state of knowledge in the Greater Antilles, about the status, health, and threats to CBC deep-sea ecosystems and associated endangered species, compiling, and assessing existing information with a focus on: a) State of knowledge about bathymetry and most relevant oceanographic variables to support marine conservation in the CBC offshore and deep-sea areas. b) State of knowledge and data availability about classification, spatial distribution, and regional connectivity of these ecosystems and associated endangered species. c) State of knowledge and data availability on main threats on deep-sea and offshore ecosystems and species and their drivers, as well as emerging threats (if any), such as the impact of climate change, pollution, sargassum floods, emerging diseases, and invasive alien species. d) A general assessment of the protection status of deep-sea, offshore ecosystems(MPAs, OECM and other legal means) in the CBC. e) Main data/information/knowledge gaps that are key to devising and implementing effective conservation strategies and measures in offshore, deep-sea areas of the CBC. f) The complete list of references. • Activity 4. Prepare a list of experts and organizations working in the region on deep seas including their names, organization and contact information. • Activity 5. Prepare a research design, to address the main identified gaps in a selected polygon with potential for expanding area-based conservation measures in the EEZ of one or more CBC countries, including cost-based scenarios and associated logistic arrangements to carry out an expedition to the selected polygon. Deliverables: • Product No. 1: A description (including maps) of the main subregions, geomorphic features, and oceanographic characteristics of the deep-sea and offshore waters of the CBC countries in a selected polygon under CBC intervention area. • Product No. 2: A report with the results of a full desk review and discussion with experts on existing information/data on deep-sea ecosystems and associated threatened species, with a focus on: o Status of knowledge on oceanographic variables, bathymetry and deep-sea features, ecosystems and associated threatened species in the offshore waters (beyond insular shelf) of the CBC countries. o Proposed priority information gaps and research needs that need to be addressed to inform and improve the conservation of selected groups of deep-sea ecosystems/species to provide input to update the CBC Initiative’s strategic plan, and to provide scientific basis for the expansion of area-based conservation measures in deep-sea, offshore waters of the CBC. o The relevant bibliography with links to or the copies of the documents consulted during the analysis. o A summary of the discussions with experts on the main information gaps, status and threats to deep sea ecosystems in the CBC marine area. o The list of experts and organizations working on the topic in the region. • Product No 3: Document containing the proposed research design to address the main identified gaps in a selected polygon with potential for expanding area-based conservation measures in the EEZ of one or more CBC countries, including cost-based scenarios and associated logistic arrangements to carry out an expedition to the selected polygon. Specific tasks and responsibilities: The consultant is expected to carry out the activities described below and deliver related products, working in close cooperation with the CBC Secretariat and UNEP technical team to discuss main findings, recommendations, data gaps and information needs. The consultant will deliver upon the following objectives: • Carry out a desk review on the status and threats to the conservation of deep-sea ecosystems and endangered species (both pelagic and benthic), based on existing literature and data. • Participate and lead discussions with relevant experts on the status, threats and knowledge of deep-sea ecosystems in the CBC aimed at validating the review findings and prioritizing information gaps that need to be addressed in the CBC, and that should be considered in future projects. • Develop a research design to address the most important gaps in a selected polygon with potential for expanding area-based conservation measures in the EEZ of one or more CBC countries.

Work Location

Home- Based

Expected duration

2.5 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP´s mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, Panama, works closely with the 33 countries of the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). This position is in the Environmental Governance Subprogramme, at the Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO) who for over the last 16 years has supported the Caribbean Biological Corridor Initiative (CBC) an intergovernmental platform in the region conformed by Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Jamaica through the implementation projects. The CBC works to promote coordinated actions that contribute to the conservation, connectivity, and maintenance of ecosystem services in the region. The CBC has agreed its Strategic Action Plan towards 2030 and is moving forward to address the main challenges in the region. Currently UNEP is implementing the project “Strengthening Ocean Management in the Caribbean Biological Corridor (CBC)”. The project “Strengthening Ocean Management in the CBC” seeks to take the first steps towards integrating scientific knowledge and climate adaptation strategies to ensure healthy and resilient marine and coastal ecosystems, species, and local communities in the Greater Antilles. The project will directly support the CBC initiative to generate coastal and marine data that guides marine research design and will strengthen ocean management in member countries, in the context of the CBC Strategic Plan towards 2030. The project is conceived to create the conditions and strengthen the capacities of the CBC initiative to improve knowledge on the status and vulnerability of marine and coastal ecosystems, species, and local communities in the Greater Antilles. Alliances with programmes and stakeholders engaged in broader field actions will support achievement of the objectives of the CBC in the marine realm. Outcome 1 of the project is focused on Improving knowledge and baseline information on marine-coastal issues, to guide research design in the CBC’s marine realm. Among the work carried out to date, the CBC hired a set of thematic consultancies that resulted in technical documents and desk reviews that provide a wide array of information on the status, threats and information gaps regarding marine ecosystems, turtles, birds, and mammal populations and their ecology in the region as well as emerging issues such as the impact of sargassum on biodiversity. Moreover,similar information on fish and shark populations and deep-sea ecosystems will be developed as part of the project. As a result, the CBC has a broad array of information on its priority conservation targets, and needs to consolidate it so the actions identified in each thematic consultancy can be translated into a set of actions and policy recommendations to be mainstreamed under the CBC Strategic Plan towards 2030 and effectively used in the formulation of an overarching marine programme, and to support countries identify key actions to conserve marine biodiversity along with their marine intervention strategies and policies in the CBC. The Marine Biology Specialist for the consolidation of the marine baseline analysis Deep-sea ecosystems and research design in the CBC will prepare a synthesis of the developed desk reviews on the status and threats of deep-sea ecosystems, and species in the Greater Antilles based on existing research for the region. The review will aim to consolidate a document with common information gaps and research needs in the context of the CBC Initiative’s newly approved demarcation and scope, and to propose a research design for a selected polygon of the Initiative in these matters. The consultant will liaise with the CBC Secretariat and its technical team at UNEP to build on existing information and knowledge. The consultant will be under direct supervision of the Head of Biodiversity, Land and Governance Programme with Division of Environmental Law and Conventions at UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi, will work home-based and is expected to hold regular online meetings with the CBC technical team and its Secretariat, strategic partners, and supervisor.

Qualifications/special skills

ACADEMIC: - Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology, Biology, conservation science, Oceanography, ecology, Environmental and Resource Management, Sustainability, Environmental Sciences, Engineering, aquaculture, fisheries, or related field (required). - Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in Marine Biology, Biology, conservation science, Oceanography, ecology, Environmental and Resource Management, Sustainability, Environmental Sciences, Engineering, aquaculture, fisheries, or related field is desirable. PROFESSIONAL: - Minimum 7 years of relevant work experience at the national or international level in marine conservation, research and/or management is required. - Experience in scientific research or desk reviews is desirable. - Experience preparing synthesis documents, policy briefs and/or technical communication products is an advantage. - Knowledge of at least one of the CBC priority species, groups of species or ecosystems in the region is desirable. - Experience in the Caribbean region is desirable. - Experience working across large NGOs or UN bodies in the thematic of marine conservation and or research is desirable. - Experience in the UN system desirable.

Languages

- Fluency in Spanish is required - Fluency in English is desirable - Basic knowledge of French is desirable. SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: - Excellent synthesis and summarizing skills. - Excellent writing skills in English or Spanish. - Excellent communication skills. - Good organizational and team working skills.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.