Protected Area Downgrading, Downsizing, and Degazettement (PADDD) Intern

Job Posting Organization:
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is one of the world's leading conservation organizations, dedicated to preserving the natural world and addressing the most pressing environmental challenges. Established in 1961, WWF operates in over 100 countries and has a global network of more than 5 million supporters. The organization focuses on various conservation efforts, including wildlife protection, habitat preservation, and sustainable development, aiming to create a world where people and nature thrive together.

Job Overview:
The Protected Area Downgrading, Downsizing, and Degazettement (PADDD) Intern will play a crucial role in researching and documenting the extent of PADDD in both marine and terrestrial environments. This position is situated within the Earth for Life department of WWF, which is focused on understanding the dynamics of protected areas and their legal statuses. The intern will contribute to significant research that aligns with the goals set forth in the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) established at the recent United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15). The intern's work will involve analyzing patterns and trends of PADDD events, which are legal changes that can alter the status of protected areas, potentially undermining conservation efforts. The outputs of this internship may include visual representations such as maps and graphs that illustrate the implications of PADDD on conservation sustainability.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The intern will be responsible for registering and documenting instances of marine or terrestrial PADDD globally since 2020, utilizing various sources such as legal documents, datasets, and literature. They will analyze these instances to understand their causes and conservation impacts, identifying emerging trends and patterns. The intern will also visualize this data through maps and graphs to effectively communicate findings. Additionally, the intern will support interviews or consultations with key stakeholders in regions where PADDD has been reported. They will prepare materials for review to share results with the conservation community via PADDDtracker.org and assist in developing WWF's strategy on PADDD issues. The intern may also engage with a global taskforce on communications, policy, data, and training, and has the option to publish findings in peer-reviewed literature or draft briefings on key insights.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must have completed an undergraduate degree, with preference given to current or completed graduate students. Relevant fields of study include environmental studies, law" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">environmental law, conservation biology, international development, geography, or related interdisciplinary fields. Candidates should possess skills in spatial data manipulation, qualitative analysis, and critical thinking. Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential, along with a demonstrated interest in conservation and international development. The ability to work collaboratively in a multicultural environment is also important, as is alignment with WWF's core values of courage, integrity, respect, and collaboration.

Educational Background:
A completed undergraduate degree is required, with a preference for candidates who are current or completed graduate students. Relevant areas of study include environmental studies, environmental law, conservation biology, international development, geography, or other related fields that emphasize sustainability or social sciences. Candidates may have the opportunity to utilize their PADDD research for graduate degree programs or theses.

Experience:
The position requires experience or skills in finding, downloading, and manipulating spatial data, as well as digitizing maps and managing spatial datasets. Demonstrated qualitative analysis and critical thinking skills are necessary, along with strong written and verbal communication abilities. Experience with database management and statistical analysis is desired, as well as familiarity with reference management software such as Mendeley, Zotero, or EndNote. Experience with geospatial datasets and tools like ArcGIS is also beneficial.

Languages:
While English is mandatory, proficiency in additional languages, particularly Portuguese and/or Spanish, is considered a valuable asset for this position. This could enhance communication and collaboration with diverse stakeholders in various geographical regions.

Additional Notes:
This internship is a paid position, offering $21 per hour for candidates with undergraduate degrees or graduate students, and up to $25 per hour for candidates with a graduate degree. The internship can be either part-time or full-time, depending on the candidate's schedule and availability, with a minimum of 20 hours per week desired. The most likely contract duration is full-time for three months, but this can be negotiated based on the candidate's availability. It is important to note that WWF does not provide visa sponsorship for interns, and applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. All hired individuals will need to verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States.