GRADUATE STUDENT INTERNSHIP / CO-OP PROJECT FORM
TITLE:
PROJECT
PROJECT
SPONSOR
LOCATION:
Conservation Risk Analysis of Okanagan Parks
Penticton BC
TERM:
12 weeks (subject to available funding)
May 1, 2015
NAME:
Kirk Safford
TITLE:
Conservation Specialist
DIVISION:
BC Parks
BRANCH / SECTION:
Kootenay Okanagan Region
ADDRESS:
102 Industrial Place Penticton BC, V2A 5Z6
FAX:
250-490-2231
EMAIL:
PHONE:
TOPIC OR RESEARCH
QUESTION:
(Briefly describe the research
question being addressed
through this project)
KEYWORDS:
TO: approx. Aug 1, 2015
Kirk.Safford@gov.bc.ca
250-490-8252
With over 70 provincial parks to manage in the Okanagan, and a high number of species and ecosystems at risk of management priority, BC Parks must
prioritize its limited resources on the highest risk issues with greatest potential for positive conservation outcome. We require a prioritization tool that will
identify conservation actions that will benefit the most species and ecosystems at risk.
Risk assessment/analysis
(List key words to describe the
field of study and project)
PROJECT DESCTIPTION &
RELEVANCE:
(Provide an overview of the
context for the internship and
why it is important. Describe the
project, its tangible, intended
outcomes and the role of the
student.)
Overview:
Provincial Parks in the Okanagan sub-region contain high numbers of species and ecosystems at risk that are provincially and nationally significant (347
species and 206 ecosystems based on the Conservation Framework priorities 1 through 3). Many of the provincial parks and protected areas are under
pressure from a number of factors (e.g. development interface, invasive species, high recreation use, cumulative effects) that negatively affect conservation
values. There are over 70 parks in which we must prioritize conservation efforts based on the values at risk, threats to these values, and feasibility of actions
to be taken. We are looking for an intern to develop a risk based management tool to prioritize parks for conservation work based on values and threats,
and identify priority actions, including consideration of feasibility and probability of success of these actions. The results of this work is to be used by BC
Parks and partner groups and agencies to direct conservation actions such as protection, restoration, maintenance, research, inventory, and monitoring.
The intern will also assist with validation of the tool, development of conservation action plans for individual parks, and regional species and ecosystems at
risk projects currently underway as time allows.
The successful intern will be assisted by the regional BC Parks Conservation Specialist, with occasional support from other parks staff (Area Supervisors,
Rangers) and FLNRO staff (regional Species at Risk Biologist, and Ecosystem Biologists) in Penticton BC. Preference is for a student who can work in Penticton;
however alternate locations will be considered. Ideally the successful intern will have education and/or experience in risk or threat analysis tool
development and use. It would be beneficial for the student to have GIS experience (familiarity with ArcMap) as much of the species and ecosystem
information we have is spatial. Familiarity with the Conservation Data Centre and Conservation Framework are also a benefit. Further project details and
work plan will be developed with the student and advisor(s).
Funding Requested from BRITE
AMOUNT: $6000
AVAILABLE FUNDING:
NO
YES
IF YES, THEN LIST AMOUNT:
6,000 (applied for and needs to be confirmed in April 2015)
PROJECT TYPE (Check the relevant type(s) of work to be undertaken for this internship / co-op project)
FIELD WORK (secondary)
GIS ANALYSIS (potentially if the student has the skills and interest)
RESEARCH PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT
POLICY ANALYSIS
LITERATURE REVIEW
SURVEY DESIGN
SHORT STUDY / ASSESSMENT
MODEL DEVELOPMENT (research prioritization framework)
DATA COLLECTION
OTHER
please describe:
DATA / STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
EXPECTED DELIVERABLES:
1.
A conservation prioritization tool for Okanagan provincial parks (format to be determined)
(Summarize the intended
project deliverables, e.g.,
research report, data analyzed,
and presented in a spreadsheet
format, etc.)
2.
A brief report summarizing the conceptual model/risk analysis, inputs, summary results and limitations of the analysis
3.
Results of the analysis of priority parks and conservation actions