Biomass Inventory Field Technician

Organization
: Ikaya Earth Private Limited

Location
: Chhatarpur, Damoh, Katni, and Panna districts, Madhya Pradesh, India

Duration
: Approximately 30 days (December 2, 2025 – Late December 2025/Early January 2026)

Positions Available
: 8 Field Technician Interns

Start Date
: Week of December 2, 2025

About the Project

The Project is a large-scale ecosystem restoration initiative across multiple districts in Madhya Pradesh, India. The project focuses on restoring degraded community and private lands through native tree planting and natural regeneration. It is being certified under the Verra VCS Standard (VM0047) for afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation.

As part of the project's monitoring requirements, a comprehensive biomass inventory will be conducted to measure Aboveground Woody Biomass (AGB) across project parcels in preparation for third-party verification.

Internship Overview

This hands-on field internship offers students and early-career professionals an opportunity to gain practical experience in forest inventory, carbon project monitoring, and environmental data collection. Interns will work as part of field measurement teams conducting biomass assessments across 100+ parcels in rural Madhya Pradesh.

Key Responsibilities

Phase 1: Training and Mobilization (2-3 days)

•       Attend comprehensive practical training covering:

–       Tree and shrub measurement techniques (DBH, height, species identification)

–       Plot observations (soil characteristics, slope, vegetation assessment)

–       Digital data collection protocols (Kobo Toolbox)

–       Field safety procedures and data quality control

•       Inspect and familiarize yourself with field equipment (measuring tapes, calipers, rangefinders, GPS devices, tablets)

•       Participate in pilot plot exercises

Phase 2: Field Data Collection days)

•       Conduct biomass measurements across 100+ parcels following the project's sampling design

•       Record detailed plot-level data including:

–       GPS coordinates

–       Plant type and species identification

–       Tree height and DBH (diameter at breast height)

–       Crown diameter measurements

–       Soil characteristics and slope

•       Enter and upload data daily using both manual forms and Kobo digital platform

•       Ensure data completeness, accuracy, and alignment with training protocols

•       Follow all safety procedures and community engagement guidelines

•       Participate in daily team coordination meetings

Phase 3: Data Review and Quality Assurance

•       Review collected data daily prior to submission

•       Support quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) spot-checks

•       Assist in preparing final validated datasets, metadata, and plot summaries

•       Contribute to completion reports documenting plots measured, observations recorded, and challenges encountered

Qualifications and Requirements

Essential Requirements

•       Currently pursuing or recently completed a Bachelor's degree or diploma in:

–       Forestry

–       Environmental Science

–       Botany

–       Agriculture

–       Natural Resource Management

–       Related fields

•       Proficiency in Hindi (spoken and written)

•       Ability to work in rural field conditions and walk long distances

•       Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy

•       Team player with good communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

•       English proficiency (reading, writing, speaking) is mandatory

•       Prior experience in forest inventory, vegetation surveys, or fieldwork

•       Familiarity with local tree and shrub species of Madhya Pradesh

•       Experience with digital data entry tools (Kobo Toolbox, ODK, or similar platforms)

•       Knowledge of GPS devices and mobile data collection

•       Interest in climate action, carbon projects, and ecosystem restoration

What We Provide

•       Comprehensive 2-3 day training with experienced technical staff

•       All field equipment and materials:

–       Measuring tapes (DBH tapes), calipers, and rangefinders

–       GPS devices or mobile phones with GPS functionality

–       Tablets for digital data collection

–       Field safety kits, plot markers, and consumables

•       Transportation to and from field sites

•       Accommodation (hotels) during field work period

•       All meals throughout the internship duration

•       Hands-on mentorship from experienced field coordinators

•       Certificate of completion

•       Stipend (details to be discussed during interview) : Rs /-

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this internship, participants will have gained:

•       Practical skills in forest biomass inventory and carbon monitoring

•       Experience with Verra VCS carbon project standards and methodologies

•       Proficiency in digital data collection tools and quality control protocols

•       Understanding of afforestation and reforestation project implementation

•       Field experience in rural community engagement

•       Exposure to climate finance and carbon credit verification processes

•       Enhanced botanical knowledge and tree species identification skills