Job Title: Consultant
Project Title: Blue Carbon Stock Monitoring of Mangrove Restoration Sites in Ticao Burias Pass Protected Seascape (TBPPS

Known for its enormous capacity to absorb huge amounts of carbon dioxide, mangroves serve as
a frontline of climate change mitigation and local resilience. As such, various mangrove conservation
efforts, including planting, have been made to sustain and ensure its critical ecosystem function.
However, the monitoring and impact assessment of this important function remains limited.

For conservation efforts to be effective and sustainable, information about the long-term survival
of mangrove carbon stock sequestration performance is vital. Carbon stock monitoring often includes
assessing forest health, biomass, species composition, and soil condition. It helps determine whether
rehabilitation efforts are successful in rebuilding biomass and soil carbon over time. This information
provides ecological and economic perspectives to improve restoration management plans and
approaches.

Mangrove blue carbon monitoring involves measurement of vegetation and sediment carbon stocks.
Such components can be translated into potential economic value, which serves as a good basis for
calibrating resource management decisions, policymaking, and exploring future opportunities such as
those related to carbon projects that could benefit a wide array of local stakeholders, particularly the
poor coastal communities

The assessment of mangrove blue carbon stock in the TBPPS is one of the major components of the
HSBC Mangrove Ecosystem Management Project. In 2022, carbon stock baselines were determined
before the implementation of rehabilitation activities for periodic monitoring. This study is a post
assessment, which generally aims to measure the impact of mangrove rehabilitation efforts of the project
across the TBPPS through monitoring its blue carbon stock within the rehabilitation/restoration sites.

Specifically, it endeavors to:

1. impart skills on field and desk-based carbon stock measurement used in monitoring;
2. provide measurements of mangrove blue carbon stock contributed by the intervention; and
3. recommend mangrove management strategies to further protect and enrich the blue carbon
4. stock capacity of mangrove forests.

1. Participate in the necessary coordination and courtesy calls to the local government and stakeholders.
2. Act as the technical resource person for the training and actual implementation of the study.
3. Lead the reconnaissance and actual field sampling at identified sites.
4. Identify the sampling sites for data collection based on technical considerations.
5. Assist in the establishment of permanent sampling plots for future monitoring.
6. Prepare the working plan and time frame for the strategic undertaking of the study.
7. Prepare the list of required materials, equipment, and laboratory testing procedures for proper procurement.
8. Organize, summarize, and analyze the collected data.
9. Produce a report to demonstrate the findings.
10. Present the findings to the community stakeholders.
11. Provide recommendations that can be included in the integrated mangrove forest management plan.
12. Participate in the meetings with other project proponents for updates regarding the progress of the study.

The Consultant shall deliver the following outputs/activities:

1. Lecture-discussion and hands-on demonstration: Orientation of Research Assistants and Project Staff; Guidelines and Standard form/list of data for carbon stock assessment
2. Data collection, synthesis, and report writing: Raw Data Files, Presentation, and Submission of Progress and Final Report of the study

1. MSc or PhD degree in Environmental Science, Forestry, Marine Biology, or any related field.
2. At least 5 years of experience in carbon stock assessment, preferably blue carbon ecosystems, with related scientific publications
3. At least 5 years of experience in facilitating training/workshops or field demonstrations on carbon stock assessment.
4. Physically able to lead fieldwork activities and guide research assistants and project staff.
5. Good communication skills, with the ability to present findings to local stakeholders and communities.
6. Has experience working with the local government units and stakeholders is an advantage.
7. Organized and able to manage timelines, work plans, and technical outputs.
8. Able to submit primary data, progress, and technical reports on time.

1. The engagement of the Consultant shall commence in May 2026 and shall end in September 2026.
2. The Project Staff shall provide necessary administrative assistance and logistics to the Consultant, including community coordination for the specific activities before, during, and after the assessment and procurement of materials and equipment.
3. The Consultant shall lead and oversee the actual conduct of the assessment, providing the necessary technical knowledge and skills.
4. The Project Staff shall assist the Consultant in conducting a reconnaissance survey, actual field sampling, and related tasks may be assigned by the Consultant.
5. All official operating expenses shall be shouldered by the Project.
6. The Consultant shall be provided access to the facilities of WWF Donsol Field Office and staffhouse during the conduct of field activities.
7. The project and all materials produced therefrom shall be owned by WWF-Philippines.
8. The Consultant shall request in writing the approval from WWF-Philippines before the use of any data derived from the project in any publication other than in-house use and shall acknowledge the WWF staff involved in the research as co-authors.