Overview
In order to promote the Curlew Conservation Programme locally and to engender local support for the project, the services of a local Curlew Champion will be engaged. This person will ideally be known to people in local area and will ideally have associations with the farming community; given farmers are the main stakeholders with whom the project will work. The Curlew Champion will build a positive profile for the project and animate local actors to take a proactive part in reporting Curlew locations and engage on measures to help breeding Curlews. The local Curlew Champion will also be responsible for undertaking survey work in tandem with the Curlew Advisory Officer. In light of Covid-19 and less opportunities for community events/school visits, the Curlew Champion a greater emphasis shall be placed on survey work in 2022. The Curlew Champion will be central to gaining the support of local people to enable a smooth operation of the scheme, including building relations between project personnel (including the local Curlew Advisory Officer, Curlew Nest Protection Officer and Curlew Action Team Assistant) and local people. In 2022, a significant proportion of such engagement will be done on-line and all Government health guidelines in relation to Covid-19 shall be followed.
Areas (See Appendix 1)
- Stack’s Mountains
- North Roscommon/East Mayo
- Mid Co. Leitrim/North East Roscommon
- Laois (Sliabh Blooms) and Kildare
Tasks
Starting Wednesday 08 March 2023, the primary focus of the Curlew Champion will be to form close relationships between the local community, Curlews and the Curlew Conservation Programme.
| Category | Curlew Champion Focus |
|---|---|
|
Team and community liaison |
Forming close working relationships with project personnel, NPWS and landowners. |
|
Disseminating information |
Discussing various matters in relation to the efforts underway with locals, with a particular focus on delivering results for Curlew and passing on recommendations for wider roll-out of conservation efforts |
|
Public Awareness and Media |
Attending relevant meetings (e.g. farmer / agricultural planner meetings) and events (e.g. local shows/festivals), with an emphasis on online content/web meetings unless otherwise in line with Government health guidelines in relation to Covd-19. Undertaking at least one local radio interview in Spring 2022 and at least one local newspaper article in Spring 2022 (any press related material should be approved in advance by NPWS/DHLGH). Establishing an event for World Curlew Day 21 April 2022. |
|
Assisting in smooth running of programme locally |
Improving the collaborative approach and efficacy of effort by the project and landowners Bringing issues and proposed solutions brought to attention at the earliest opportunity |
|
Building profile of programme and Curlew |
Building a positive profile for the Curlew and the NPWS Curlew Conservation Programme among landowners and local community |
|
Education |
Providing information (through talks and information material) to at least five national schools and one secondary school (ideally to 5th/6th year students) locally Engraining an understanding among local landowners and community of the project and why it is of benefit to engage proactively for Curlew conservation efforts locally |
|
Surveys |
Undertaking surveys for Curlew in tandem with the Curlew Advisory Officer and other team members in a socially distant way. |
Equipment and Logistics
The local Curlew Advisory Officer shall provide their own transport/fuel, etc. and this will be taken from the overall contract amount.
Selection of Curlew Champions
A tender evaluation committee shall select one Curlew Champion for each area as advertised. In their tender, applicants are advised to clearly outline their costs, experience and expertise, in accordance with the Curlew Action Team application form. The following marking criteria shall be applied in the evaluation of tenders:
Cost: 400 marks
Experience: 400 marks (minimum required 200 marks)
Qualifications appropriate to the position: 200 marks (minimum required 100 marks)
Covid-19
All work must be carried out in full compliance with Government/HSE guidance on Covid-19. In the event that such guidance or other ruling by Government around Covid-19 prevents any work related to the contract from proceeding for any period of time, then the Contractor must inform the Client, and in agreement between Contractor and Client the work schedule shall be adjusted accordingly. The Client shall not be liable for any costs arising e.g. if days could not be worked.