Our Indonesia Islands field study offers students an immersive exploration of nature and culture in one of the world’s most fascinating biodiversity hotspots. Our program will cover four unique islands each with distinct ecosystems and histories—Java, Sumatra, Bali, and Lombok—comparing and contrasting each to uncover patterns of ecology, evolution, and cultural development. We’ll examine firsthand the flora and fauna of the major ecosystems of the archipelago, from virgin rainforests harboring tigers, elephants, 300-foot tall trees, and the world’s largest (and smelliest) flowers, to water-logged peat-swamps holding vast reserves of soil carbon, to high-altitude cloud forests and the windswept summits of some of Indonesia’s many spectacular volcanoes. We’ll also dive into marine ecology as we snorkel over sparkling coral reefs teeming with fish and explore mangrove forests and seagrass meadows where peaceful dugongs and sea turtles graze. As we learn about the ways in which Indonesians have interacted with their environment, we’ll cross a gradient of human disturbance and compare sites that have been degraded to ecosystems that are considered pristine, providing an opportunity to learn about conservation principles and applications. Students will learn through immersive field lectures, interactions with guest speakers, and field journal assignments, while gaining direct exposure to research and sustainability projects on the frontlines of the biodiversity crisis. Expect to become a global citizen prepared to work on some of the toughest challenges facing our environment.
Background Information
At the crossroads of Asia and Australia, Indonesia’s 17,000 islands have been shaped by tectonic forces and evolutionary drivers that have resulted in the island system supporting the second-highest biodiversity of any nation on our planet. During the last ice age when sea levels were lower, the western islands—Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and Bali—were attached to mainland Asia, and Lombok was part of Australia. Interestingly, each island shares species common to its original host. Historically, the western islands were rich in iconic megafauna: elephants, rhinos, the Malayan tapir, tigers, sun bears, and clouded leopards, as well as orangutans and gibbons, and majestic birds such as hornbills. The eastern islands, by contrast, showcase the ancient connection to Australia featuring marsupials like tree kangaroos, possums, and couscous, the bizarre egg-laying echidna, birds such as the flightless cassowary, and the massive Komodo dragon. By looking at the distribution of life across the islands, the Indonesian archipelago is an ideal natural laboratory to study the fundamental principles of island biogeography and evolution. In fact, studies from Indonesia led the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace to discover the concept of Natural Selection independently before Darwin published his ideas.
In addition to Indonesia’s fascinating evolutionary past, the land has also been shaped by volcanism. Situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia has the most active volcanoes of any country, making it a very exciting place to study geology and ecological succession in action. Active volcanism has resulted in the formation of new islands, fertile soil, and further influenced the distribution of plants and animals. As an example, since the massive explosion of Krakatoa in 1883, scientists have watched as a new island emerged from the sea, underwent ecological succession, and slowly became populated with life.
Most Indonesian islands have a spine of high volcanoes harboring montane cloud forests with distinct species, as well as unique high-altitude shrublands and glimmering volcanic crater lakes. The lowlands of the larger islands, by contrast, often hold huge areas of ancient, swampy peatlands, one of the most crucial ecosystems for the global carbon cycle. Offshore, mangroves shelter crocodiles, while manatee-like dugongs and several species of sea turtles graze in seagrass meadows. Away from the muddy rivers of the larger islands, the clear seas of the archipelago support the world’s most diverse coral reefs, harboring hundreds of species of coral and thousands of species of colorful fish.
The Indonesia that is encountered by most travelers today, however, is a land transformed by humans. The region’s rich diversity has attracted humans for millions of years, beginning with the ancient human species, Homo erectus. Human influence became more widespread when modern humans arrived, specifically with the migration of Papuan peoples through the region, and the later migration of Austronesian agriculturalists to the archipelago. Seaborn trade made this region a true crossroads of civilizations, as various mariners and missionaries left their mark on Indonesia’s many kingdoms, sultanates, and tribes. Islam arrived in Indonesia in the 13th century and quickly became the dominant faith. Later European colonization marked a turning point for people and the environment, as landscapes were reorganized to produce spices (and later, other commodity crops) for the world market.
In recent decades Indonesia has been transformed by industrial-scale deforestation and agricultural expansion, losing 25% of its native forests just since 1990 and causing the country to become among the Earth’s largest greenhouse-gas emitters. As the world seeks sources of clean energy, a boom in battery mineral production is adding pressure to the country’s ecosystems and Indigenous peoples. These changes have relegated Indonesia’s megafauna to a handful of tiny pockets, while the illegal wildlife trade poses a major threat to both common and rare species. In the seas that surround Indonesia, heavy exploitation and unsustainable fishing methods have made Indonesia the world’s second biggest supplier of seafood at a huge cost to reefs, while the country’s rivers deliver a significant portion of the world’s plastic load to the ocean.
Despite these challenges, many dedicated people across the archipelago are working relentlessly for sustainability, piloting restoration projects, preserving endangered wildlife, and working with local communities to improve practices. Studying conservation and sustainability in Indonesia puts students on the frontlines of many critical environmental issues and provides lessons for the future development of tropical nations and the global economy at large.
Program Goals and Activities
On this program we’ll immerse ourselves in the fascinating ecosystems of four of the country’s main islands (Java, Sumatra, Bali, and Lombok), gain hands on skills in research and conservation, interact with local people while learning about traditional livelihoods, and hone our skills as naturalists by studying the diverse plants and animals that make this country unique. As we travel between the islands, we will learn about the origins of biodiversity, the ecology of both terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and the history of environmental change in Indonesia. We’ll be privileged to see some of the country’s remaining wildlands in a pristine state, while also grappling with the human impact and synthesizing solutions for a sustainable future. We will discuss solutions to the biodiversity crisis and visit restoration and rehabilitation sites, where ordinary people and international NGOs are working to reverse forest loss, coral reef collapse, and preserve endangered species. We’ll engage with a variety of stakeholders across Indonesia’s breadth of cultural, religious, and ethnic diversity, from small-scale farmers and fishers to forest rangers, conservationists, scientists, and educators. Students on our Indonesia program can expect to be engaged on the frontline of conservation, as we all become better global environmental citizens.
The following topics, described below, will be covered in depth during the program.
Tropical Ecology
From reefs, mangroves, and seagrass meadows to rainforests, peat swamps, and high-altitude cloud forests, our four islands of study contain examples of important and threatened tropical ecosystems found around the world. We will discuss the general principles of tropical ecology, how tropical forests and coral reefs function, and the role these ecosystems play in shaping global environmental cycles. We will cover the key ecological processes that maintain high levels of biodiversity in the tropics, including disturbance, seed and larval dispersal, specialization and competition, microclimates, and biogeochemical cycles. Students will sharpen their skills as naturalists by learning to identify the major families of tropical organisms and become skilled at recognizing common species that are found throughout Indonesia. Students will gain practical hands-on field skills that are used to study tropical flora and fauna in the wild.
Biogeography and Evolution
Indonesia has long been recognized as a natural laboratory to showcase the theory of island biogeography, where the country’s many disparate islands provide opportunities to understand how habitat area, distance from nearby islands, climate, currents, and other factors drive evolution, speciation, and the distribution of organisms. Comparing the differences in fauna between Indonesia’s islands led famed naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace to independently discover the principle of natural selection while Darwin was hesitating to publish his own theories. As we survey biodiversity across our four-island study group, we will compare and discuss our findings to learn about biogeography and evolution, and how natural ecological processes are impacted in an age of rapid environmental change.
Conservation Theory and Practice
Indonesia exemplifies many environmental issues that are common to tropical, developing nations, however, in Indonesia certain issues are magnified by the country’s high population density. Deforestation, climate change, land-use emissions, commodity crops, the illegal wildlife trade, mining, overfishing, and marine pollution are among the environmental threats that will be discussed. Through engagement with local conservation practitioners, observing wildlife rehabilitation efforts, and visiting ecosystem restoration sites, students will gain an understanding of the complexities of these issues and the measures that are being taken to protect Indonesia’s fragile ecosystems. Embedded into these experiences, we will discuss and analyze the theory, philosophy, and effectiveness behind different conservation tactics.
Culture and Environmental History
Indonesia sits at the crossroads not only of different biogeographic realms but of different spheres of human culture and influence. We’ll learn about the people that have inhabited Indonesia for over a million years and how they have influenced—and been influenced by—their environment, ranging from Homo erectus and Homo floresiensis, archaic human species, to the arrival of modern Papuan and Austronesian peoples, to the cultural influence of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam in more recent centuries. Indonesia’s environment underwent a major transformation when it became the subject of European colonialism revolving around the lucrative spice trade, and later agricultural commodities, including rubber and palm oil. During the program, we will chart the history and trajectory of the country’s wildlands from colonization to dictatorship to shaky democracy, learning about the intersection of humans and the environment and the socio-political context of current environmental challenges. As we experience these cultural landscapes, we will listen to people who live close to nature, trying to break cycles of exploitation, as we support their efforts toward sustainability.
Ecological Field Skills
Students will not only learn the foundations of tropical ecology, biogeography, and conservation, but they will also gain practical field skills and become familiar with common field methods that are used by tropical ecologists. Students will complete biodiversity surveys, behavioral observation studies, and discuss various approaches to experimental design. With newly acquired skills, students will design their own independent research projects, turning an idea into results in order to learn the scientific process. Most importantly, students will learn firsthand about the interactions between people and their environments, gaining a foundation in the complexities and nuance that form the starting point for any efforts towards sustainability.
Please note that prior field research experience is not required. All necessary skills of data acquisition will be taught on-site in Indonesia. We expect students to have a positive and engaging attitude throughout the course. In exchange, our field studies program will provide a unique opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of island biogeography, drivers of biodiversity, key environmental stressors, and different conservation strategies that are being implemented. On our program, you can expect to have direct exposure to the diversity of four Indonesian islands and the country’s rich culture, while learning about ecological principles and conservation biology.
Academic Credit
Students will receive 15 quarter credits/10 semester credits from Western Washington University. Our staff will be happy to explain the program in further detail to the applicant’s advisor, if necessary. This field studies program gives credit in three courses:
Environmental Wildlands Studies (5 quarter credits/3.35 semester credits)
Environmental Field Survey (5 quarter credits/3.35 semester credits)
Wildlands Environment and Culture (5 quarter credits/3.35 semester credits)
Students will be evaluated on the basis of: 1) active participation in all scheduled class and field activities; 2) examinations and quizzes; 3) field journals; 4) independent research papers/essays; and 5) the design, implementation, and presentation of a mini-group project.
Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a mature and responsible manner. Wildlands Studies reserves the right to require any student to withdraw from the program if their conduct is detrimental to or incompatible with the interests, safety, or welfare of any course participants. We ask all students to read the Student Program Manual before joining the program on-site.
Team Logistics
Participants will fly into Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. At the conclusion of the program on the island of Bali participants can decide whether to fly home on the scheduled date or stay in Indonesia to travel independently.
All reasonable efforts will be made to follow the activities outlined above. However, please understand that on our program in Indonesia, travel arrangements can remain tentative until the traveling actually takes place. Weather conditions, road closures, as well as bureaucratic and cultural considerations may affect our plans. Wildlands Studies has put together an innovative, unique program in Indonesia, and team members need to be flexible, patient, and prepared to adapt to unexpected situations. Being flexible also allows us to take advantage of unexpected yet welcome opportunities that inadvertently arise during our journeys, often producing some of the program’s most memorable moments.
Accommodations
Primarily camping with occasional stays in rural lodges and youth hostels. Accommodations range from National Park bungalows to setting up camp in various ecosystems.
Food
Food is handled differently on each of our programs. Wildlands Studies will provide the majority of meals on this program utilizing local cafes, cultural centers and food provided by our in-country partners. Participants will be responsible for purchasing occasional meals, snacks, and any personal items. Detailed information about meals and food management will be provided in the Logistics Packet. If you have dietary questions or concerns, please call our office.
Official Documents/Visa
You will need a current passport that does not expire until six months after the end of the program. Instructions on how to apply for an eVisa will be included in the logistics packet.
Language
This program is taught in English.
Pre-Program Logistics Packet
Detailed information regarding travel/flight information, equipment/gear requirements, food costs, meeting plans, group expenses payment, medical recommendations, and academic preparations will be sent to all team members in a logistics letter emailed about 10-12 weeks before the program initiates. Stay in good shape and get ready for an exciting program.
