Credits
8
Prerequisites
None
Language of Study
Bahasa Indonesia
Courses taught in
English
Dates
Jun 5 – Jul 17
Program Countries
Indonesia
Program Base
Utu, Bali
Critical Global Issue of Study
Climate & Environment
Development & Inequality
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Indonesia
Biodiversity & Conservation in Bali &Borneo
(Deadline Passed)
Examine biodiversity, conservation, resource-use patterns, and the restoration of wildlife on the exotic islands of Bali and Borneo.
At a Glance
Overview
Why study conservation in Indonesia?
One of the world’s recognized “megadiverse” countries, Indonesia is known for its primeval rainforests and wealth of natural resources including some15,000 plant species. Take a journey through villages and volcanic landscapes, plantations and lushly forested conservation areas, as well as the stunning coral reefs, beaches, mangroves, and seagrass beds of this ecologically rich pocket of the world. Starting in Bali, on the grounds of an ancient palace complex, explore grassroots conservation focused on habitat restoration, community sustainability, and endangered species management. Witness extreme threats to animal and plant life posed by rapid growth in tourism and the palm oil industry. Learn from conservationists dedicated to protecting national parks in Java and Borneo, and observe the diverse community of primates and other large fauna. There will be opportunities to snorkel among the coral reefs and manta rays, hike in tropical forests, and visit conservation projects aimed at protecting the Bali myna, Bornean orangutan, and other endangered species.
Highlights
- Study “endemic” plants and wildlife that exist in only one part of the world.
- Undertake extensive fieldwork, from land to sea, exploring forests and reefs.
- Learn Bahasa Indonesia, the official language of the vast Indonesian archipelago.
- Examine the challenges of human-dominated, yet unique, tropical ecosystems.
Prerequisites
None
Excursions
Nusa Penida
Study marine ecology and conservation on this small island neighboring Nusa Penida. The highly diverse reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds around these islands have recently been declared a marine protected area (MPA). As part of this trip, discover and practice the field techniques used to monitor MPAs, including methods for surveying corals, fishes, and some of the significant megafauna such as manta rays.
West Bali
Stay with a community engaged in various ecotourism enterprises including showcasing the lowland forests of West Bali National Park. Examine coral reef conservation, fisheries management, and conservation of species in agricultural landscapes. You will assess the application of conservation principles and their efficacy in managing West Bali National Park.
Java
On the easternmost part of Java, encounter some of the island’s largest forest remnants in a patchwork of conservation areas surrounded by intensively used farmlands. Here, the potential for biodiversity conservation is tightly linked to the community’s needs for space, food security, and opportunities to engage in the flourishing tourism sector.
Kalimantan (Borneo)
Take a seven-day excursion into conservation areas of the Tanjung Puting National Park, site of the famous long-term study of orangutan ecology and conservation, and home to a diverse community of primates and other large fauna. Observe primates in the park and other wildlife and stay at the Friends of the National Parks Foundation (FNPF) conservation center, where the restoration of habitat on degraded land is a key project. In the surrounding plantations, mainly of oil palm, witness the precious value of habitat remnants and the ongoing pressure on them.
Please note that SIT will make every effort to maintain its programs as described. To respond to emergent situations, however, SIT may have to change or cancel programs.
Academics
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Describe how geography and physical environment act as determinants of biodiversity and endemism in flora and fauna including how Bali’s original habitats and wildlife evolved, and the key environmental features that maintain diversity.
- Evaluate how human settlement and resource-use patterns have led to habitat loss and fragmentation, species endangerment and ongoing threats to terrestrial and marine biodiversity.
- Communicate principles and practices of conservation biology, with a particular focus on habitat fragmentation and management of threatened species and populations.
- Assess conservation strategies to ameliorate habitat loss and population reduction, including tropical forest restoration, captive breeding and release programs, protected area management, and community conservation approaches.
- Apply economic, environmental, and social aspects of sustainability to create solutions to the problems posed by population growth, environmental exploitation and tourism, among others.
- Synthesize the learning acquired on the program to develop a field-based independent project.
- Enhance or advance your conversational and communicative skills in Bahasa.
Coursework
The following syllabi are representative of this program. Because courses develop and change over time to take advantage of dynamic learning opportunities, actual course content will vary from term to term.
The syllabi can be useful for students, faculty, and study abroad offices in assessing credit transfer. Read more about credit transfer.
Key Topics
- Conservation strategies for habitats in human-dominated landscapes
- Principles and practices of sustainability and conservation biology
- Dynamics of habitat fragmentation in tropical ecosystems
- Restoration strategies for marine and terrestrial ecosystems
- The double-edged sword of tourism within a conservation strategy
Biodiversity and Natural Resource Conservation
Biodiversity and Natural Resource Conservation
Biodiversity and Natural Resource Conservation – syllabus
(ENVI3010 / 3 credits)
This course focuses on biodiversity conservation in the ecological context of tropical Asian reef and rainforest systems. Against a backdrop of historical and contemporary patterns of natural resource use patterns in Indonesia and particularly Bali, students examine the responses of the biota to large-scale habitat loss and fragmentation, extraction of resources (for example timber and fishes), and changes to hydrological and nutrient dynamics that accompany conversion of the landscape to agricultural dominance. Understanding the processes and patterns of change gives students insight into potential solutions, which may include government-initiated programs, privately funded ventures, and community-based approaches. Students examine these different models by means of social, economic, and environmental indicators of success, looking in particular at integration of these aspects and potential for long-term, sustainable solutions.
Biodiversity and Conservation Field Study Project
Biodiversity and Conservation Field Study Project
Biodiversity and Conservation Field Study Project – syllabus
(ENVI3060 / 3 credits)
In this course, students engage in research on a topic of relevance to biodiversity and conservation in Bali. The emphasis in this project is on building a solid framework for facilitating field research, including development of appropriate research questions and methodology, use of literature and other resources to construct a strong context for proposed project work, and cultivation of sound primary data collection skills (including interview and laboratory-based skills as well as fieldwork in a narrower sense). Each student conducts research with a field component and produces an original academic paper whose contents are also presented orally to student peers. This course gives students the opportunity to engage in more detail with one of the themes examined in the seminar and to develop their research skills.
Bahasa Indonesia
Bahasa Indonesia
Beginning Bahasa Indonesia – syllabus
(INDO1002 / 2 credits)
Intermediate Bahasa Indonesia – syllabus
(INDO2002 / 2 credits)
Advanced Bahasa Indonesia – syllabus
(INDO3002 / 2 credits)
This course is designed to develop student proficiency and communication in Indonesian language in order to deepen experiential learning about community nature conservation practices in Bali. While emphasis is placed primarily on oral comprehension and conversational skills (i.e., listening and speaking), reading and writing are highlighted as crucial to the reinforcement of those skills. Thus, the course is designed to help students not only acquire Indonesian language skills, but also to grasp cultural practices in Indonesia. Cultural context is built into the course and introduced through experiential activities accompanying the textbook. Beginning Indonesian introduces students to pronunciation and writing systems of basic grammar, basic vocabulary, and sentence structure.
Homestays
Tabanan Village
You will have a three- to four-day homestay in a Tabanan village, which will introduce you to a Balinese home and offer insight into the predominant Hindu culture. The homestay also gives you a good opportunity to practice your new Indonesian language skills.
Other Accommodations
Other accommodations on the program include hostels and small hotels.
Faculty & Staff
Indonesia: Biodiversity & Conservation in Bali &Borneo
I Gede Nyoman Bayu Wirayudha, DVM
Academic Director
I Made Yudiana (Pak Yudi)
Language Coordinator
Cokorda Istri Puspawati Nindhia
Program Assistant
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Cost & Scholarships
SIT Study Abroad is committed to making international education accessible to all students. Scholarship awards generally range from $500 to $5,000 for semester programs and $500 to $3,000 for summer programs. This year, SIT will award nearly 1 million in scholarships and grants to SIT Study Abroad students.
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