Extending a helping hand in the Asia Pacific

Helping a Sumatran elephant conservation centre design a tourism strategy and doing orang-utan surveys in Kalimantan are some of the conservation and ecotourism projects ahead for Southern Cross University students departing for South East Asia from this weekend (24 May).

The group of 40 students is travelling to Indonesia and East Timor for these community-engaged learning opportunities thanks to the federal government’s New Colombo Plan scholarships and AsiaBound scholarships that are designed to create greater opportunities with Australia’s neighbours.

Associate Professor David Lloyd from the School of Environment, Science and Engineering is coordinating the four separate projects.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for students to get into some of the more isolated areas in Indonesia and look at some very significant species such the Sumatran elephant, the Sumatran rhino and the Sumatran tiger, while other groups will be working with orang-utans in Kalimantan and the Bali Starling bird on the island of Nusa Penida,” Professor Lloyd said.

“It’s a very exciting, hands-on experience working alongside park rangers and seeing what it’s like trying to protect some significant species.”

Professor Lloyd said the practical aspect of the trip shouldn’t be underestimated.

“The benefits of this sort of community-engaged trip, as opposed to staying put in a city or resort, are that the SCU students are getting out into the countryside and meeting Indonesians and East Timorese on their own terms.

“It’s forcing the students to confront their own lifestyles, acknowledge how good things are here in Australia and see that with a little bit of effort and care you can actually make a significant difference to other people’s lives.”

The students involved are studying environmental science, business, tourism, social science and arts.

The projects are:

• Wildlife surveys and conservation programs for the Sumatran elephant and tiger in Way Kambus National park on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. As with many areas around the world, wild animals are now being restricted to smaller territories putting them in conflict with expanding human populations. Students will build a light tower to improve security at night and help protect rescued animals from poaching. To do this, they have helped raise the funds through crowd funding. They will also be undertaking surveys of a number of endangered species found in the region. The students are working with the Save Indonesian Endangered Species Fund directors Marie Gale and Claire Oelrichs on follow-up to ongoing projects.

• Surveying orang-utan populations in Kalimantan (Indonesia) that are being threatened by the expansion of oil palm development. The students will photograph the animals, assess their health and map the remnant forest in which the great apes live. The group will live on a riverboat for two weeks working alongside park rangers and local guides to help get an accurate picture of the status of the great apes. The students are working with the Save Indonesian Endangered Species Fund.

• Developing an ecotourism strategy for the island of Nusa Penida (near Bali) which has become famous as a refuge for the Bali Starling, now nearly extinct in its home range. The Friends of National Parks Foundation has been involved in a captive breeding program on the island. The students will assess the success of the release program to determine if the strategy will work within the birds’ home range.

• Developing agricultural curriculum for the East Timor Coffee Institute based on permaculture principals. The students will work alongside Associate Professor David Lloyd who has been working in the Emera district with coffee producers and farmers for the past 10 years.

New Colombo Plan grants and AsiaBound grants of $2000 per student, through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, have helped cover the cost of travel and accommodation, with some additional support for language training.

Kevin Hogan, the federal Member for Page, wished the students well.

“This is a wonderful program and I congratulate the students who are lucky enough to participate in it,” Mr Hogan said.

“Not only will they get some invaluable practical experience under the belts to support their academic studies, but they will also experience new cultures which is an education experience in itself.”

Photo: Associate Professor David Lloyd.