Context: The DYNECOSS-Gabon project (Ecological and Socio-Spatial Dynamics of Hunting for Sustainable Wildlife Management in Gabon) is led by CIRAD under the umbrella of the Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) programme and funded by the François Sommer Foundation. The project aims to analyze the social and ecological factors shaping hunting practices and space use by hunters in rural communities of Gabon’s Mulundu department. By leveraging unique datasets, it seeks to generate actionable recommendations for sustainable wildlife management.

Description:

You will join a multidisciplinary team working to unravel the complex interactions between human behavior and wildlife harvesting. You will have access to several unique datasets, including: 1) a hunting database with hunting yield data and GPS tracks; 2) camera trap data from three survey campaigns and 3) socio-economic survey data. Your tasks will involve:

1.Analyzing hunters' spatial practices

·Process and analyze GPS tracking data to characterize hunting spatial patterns and land-use strategies

·Integrate camera trap data to understand the spatial distribution of key hunted mammal species.

·Design and oversee the collection of socio-ethnographic data on hunters (demographic, economic, kinship and household structure).

·Examine how social and ecological factors shape the spatial organization of hunting territories (individual and communal).

2.Understanding movement strategies and hunter profiles

·Map the traditional infrastructure used by hunters (tracks and camps) from GPS data.

·Analyze the determinants of movement patterns and develop a typology of hunter profiles based on behavioral and socio-economic traits.

3.Sharing knowledge and supporting decision-making

·Write and submit a scientific article to disseminate the results to the international community.

Co-author an opinion piece and help transform it into a policy brief for the authorities with the aim of strengthening legal frameworks and improving community-based hunting governance

·Develop practical communication tools for local communities: maps, simplified graphs, and organize participatory workshops to tailor recommendations to on-the-ground realities

In this project, you will be helping to promote the sustainable and inclusive management of communal hunting grounds in Central Africa. Your work will support biodiversity conservation while respecting the needs and rights of rural communities. It will also help demonstrate the importance of including community-based governance in shaping national conservation strategies

Education level: Doctorate (PhD) obtained within the last 3 years

Profile of the post-doctoral fellow:

You hold a PhD obtained within the last three years in one of the following disciplines: spatial ecology, movement ecology or human ecology. You are motivated to apply your expertise to an innovative, applied research project that promotes the sustainable management of wildlife resources and supports rural communities.

Your knowledge :
-Strong background in spatial ecology or movement analysis (trajectory modelling, resource selection).

-Proficiency in geomatics and handling GPS data or wildlife monitoring data (e.g. camera trapping).

-Appreciation for interdisciplinary approaches that integrate ecological, ethnoecological and socio-economic data to address complex, multi-scalar phenomena.

-Oral and written fluency in English is essential for working in an international scientific environment. Proficiency in French to better interact with local stakeholders is an advantage.

-Experience of issues relating to customary rights, social practices and local governance of hunting areas is a strong asset.

Your technical skills :

-Demonstrated writing skills for producing scientific articles, technical reports and policy-relevant summaries.

-Excellent command of spatial analysis tools and statistical modelling (e.g., GIS, R statistical tools, QGIS, ArcGIS) and modelling techniques such as resource selection functions (RSFs) and/or occupancy models.

-Ability to construct interdisciplinary conceptual and analytical frameworks.

-Competence in analyzing multi-scalar data (hunter trajectories, species distribution) to generate maps and indicators.

-Skilled in integrating ecological, ethnoecological and socio-economic datasets to identify relevant trends.

-Experience in collecting socio-ethnographic data is a plus.

-Experience in translating scientific results into accessible materials for local communities and the general public is desirable.

-Previous experience in tropical regions (ideally Central Africa) and in multicultural settings would be an advantage.

Your interpersonal skills :

-Strong analytical mindset and scientific rigor.

-Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a multidisciplinary and international team.

-Good listener, adaptable, and culturally sensitive.

-Confident communicator with diverse audiences, from scientific peers to local communities.

Location:

CIRAD Campus International de Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier, France

Missions to Lastoursville, Mulundu department, Ogooué-Lolo, Gabon