Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Senior Specialist: Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry Inventory Vacancy 2026

Opportunity Overview

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is seeking a Senior Specialist in Land Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry Inventory. This is a fixed-term, three-year contract position based in Pretoria.

This role contributes significantly to South Africa's national environmental reporting and climate change mitigation efforts. The specialist will be responsible for leading the country's greenhouse gas inventory in the land use sector.

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s Degree (NQF 9) in Forestry, Natural Resource Sciences, Environmental Management or Sciences, or a relevant qualification as recognised by SAQA.
• Five (5) years of experience in the relevant field.
• Knowledge of environmental and development issues at global, regional, and local levels.
• Excellent understanding of emission and sequestration processes, including sources and sinks in relevant sectors.
• Demonstrated experience in Programme and Project Management.
• Knowledge of Land-use and land-cover platforms.
• Understanding of South Africa’s greenhouse gas emission profile and climate change mitigation strategies.
• Knowledge of climate change mitigation issues, including legal and policy frameworks, economics, technical aspects of low-carbon development, and carbon finance.
• Ability to conduct research, gather, and analyse information.
• Skills in data collection, analysis, modelling, and coordination.
• Strong written and spoken communication, analytical, organisational, and report writing skills.
• Information Management skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the compilation and annual review of the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) component of South Africa’s National Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory.
• Identify data and information requirements for LULUCF emissions estimation.
• Collect, collate, and validate data for the Forest and Other Land Use (FOLU) sector.
• Conduct Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) processes to ensure data integrity and methodological consistency.
• Compile LULUCF emission inventory reports and implement GHG improvement programmes.
• Review carbon sequestration submissions from GHG reporting entities for Carbon Tax compliance.
• Conduct research to identify other activities for carbon sequestration under the carbon tax.
• Oversee the independent verification scheme for carbon sequestration and collaborate with the forestry and pulp and paper industry to improve reporting transparency.
• Set up and operationalise a land-mapping platform to support sustainable LULUCF emissions compilation.
• Develop and maintain land-use change datasets and land-use change matrices.
• Analyse mitigation actions using geospatial and land-use data.
• Strengthen digital systems that support LULUCF monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV).
• Support the implementation of the Climate Change Act, specifically as it relates to LULUCF and land-based emissions.
• Contribute to domestic and international reporting, including Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), National Communications, and other UNFCCC submissions.
• Support the development and operationalisation of standards and guidelines for the FOLU sector.