Rare Plants, Special Use Authorizations, and Invasive Species- Digitizing Priorities in the Southern Forests FS-USA-33

Join the Pisgah National Forest of North Carolina in assisting with program updates, modernizing and archiving geospatial needs. digitally mapping some of the Forest’s top priority areas, including utility lines, rare or endangered plant species, land use authorizations and more!

This project would include two GIS maps as outcomes.

The first map would be created through partnership with Special Uses and will assist special use administrators and program staff to identify, organize and update geospatial data for current and future land uses such as private road easements, communication sites, and utility right of ways. The intern will then create maps for these authorizations that occupy NFS land on the Pisgah Zone detail land use types, special use permit types, and easement gaps in Pisgah National Forest.

Major Duties:

• Help to create, maintain and archive data to ensure quality control for the program.

• Conversion of data referencing aerial photos, plats, maps and other materials to identify and digit

•Create maps from collected geospatial data to a standardized program template for field reconnaissance and authorization use.

• Preform Analysis using geostatistic/geoprocessing tools be able to calculate/summarize necessary geospatial information.

• Assign ownership, parcel, county and other relevant data via attribute tables

• Organize, clean and scan hard copy file data into a digital format.

• Have great communication, writing skills, and be a detail oriented individual.

The second map will be created in partnership with the Forest’s botanist and map nonnative invasive species and rare plant species in the Forest. Both projects will also include a data entry and data analysis component.

The virtual intern chosen will get experience in working with Esri ArcGIS Online (AGOL), DataBasin, and other collaborative mapping platforms. Opportunities to formally present outcomes to regional leaders in the Forest Service and other professional development opportunities will be given.

To learn more about the National Forest in North Carolina go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/nfsnc/home

To learn more about GIS data of the USDA Forest Service go to: https://data.fs.usda.gov/geodata/edw/index.php

Skills and interests in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Mobile Technology required.

Come help us design and create maps for the National Forest in North Carolina!

Volunteers will be signed up under Individual Volunteer Agreements (OF-301a). All Volunteers are asked to record their hours worked on this project and will be reported in the Volunteer & Service Programs Accomplishments Database (VSReports), the official reporting database.

Professional development opportunities will include:

A virtual panel with USFS employees around diverse career paths within the Forest Service

Webinars overviewing post-graduate opportunities, pathways to hire into the Forest Service, and ways to increase your competitiveness for Forest Service and federal jobs.

Opportunities to present to a Regional and National audience on the program and deliverables

Connections with the Southern Region’s Recruitment Team to support job skills like building a federal resume, navigating USAJobs, and interviewing for federal jobs

Mentors will provide endorsement of skills & recommendations on LinkedIn following a VSFS’s interns successful completion of the program/academic year