“What is bioacoustic?”
“And why conduct bioacoustic study?”
Those were the questions that brought 15 students and 3 teachers from a local school, SMA 9 Palangka Raya, into the forest on an exciting field trip to learn more about this developing field of study. The group was invited to gain firsthand experience of wildlife research in the Rungan Education Forest, Mungku Baru, which is managed by the Muhammadiyah University Palangka Raya (UMPR).
Bioacoustics is a field of science concerned with the sounds made by living things. Using cutting-edge audio technology, we can record these sounds and study them to learn more about species and ecosystems.
See also: Getting to Know Bioacoustic
Through bioacoustics, we can observe changes in recorded sound patterns that may indicate shifts at the ecosystem-level or in the wider environment, such as climatic variation or species’ population declines.
Animal sounds have various functions, including finding food, reproduction, and alerting others to the presence of predators.
Reconnecting youth community to nature
BNF’s Environmental Education Programme was established to help shape a new generation of environmentally conscious young people. By offering field trips into the forest, we aim to reconnect children with nature and spark a life-long interest in wildlife conservation.
The BNF Education Team has been carrying out environmental education activities in Mungku Baru since 2016, catering to elementary-aged kids and all the way through high school. Like many of our activities, these efforts were temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 and have been gradually reintroduced as restrictions lifted. Bioacoustics is the first topic to be reintroduced for students at SMA 9 Palangka Raya since the pandemic began.
After a bioacoustics theory session, students were taken out into the field and given a chance to learn beyond their usual classroom walls. By directly observing and listening to the sounds of nature, students can connect more readily with the biodiversity on their doorstep.
This field trip activity was a collaboration between UMPR, the BNF Indonesia Education Team, and Wendy Erb, a bioacoustics researcher from Cornell University in collaboration with Mulawarman University-East Kalimantan.
As Wendy explained, it is crucial to involve local communities and reconnect young people with their natural heritage. While university groups and researchers have travelled hundreds or even thousands of miles to visit the Rungan Education Forest, many students in Mungku Baru had never been into the forest before, despite living right alongside it!
Using the three-wheeled auto rickshaw from Mungku Baru Village to the Rungan Education Forest.
Photo by Vera Dwi Safitri | BNF
Journey into the kerangas mixed-heath forest
To reach the Rungan Education Forest, field trip participants embarked on a 4-kilometre-long journey from their village in Mungku Baru. The trip began with a 2-kilometre ride on a three-wheeled auto rickshaw, which felt like being on a rollercoaster!
The road out of the village is full of potholes and the driver had to be careful not to slow down too much or risk getting stuck on its sandy surface. This route was originally designed for timber company vehicles but has been used by the local community since commercial operations ceased.
After riding the ‘rollercoaster’, participants continued their journey on foot, crossing small rivers and passing through a bare, sandy patch of land that had once been used for mining. Sand clung to everyone’s shoes and the sun beat down mercilessly, but these challenges only seemed to intensify the students’ enthusiasm for the wild beauty they were about to experience.
Crossing small rivers to go to the kerangas mixed-heth forest
Photo by Vera Dwi Safitri | BNF
Using bioacoustics tools
Once they had reached the forest, Wendy Erb and her research assistant, Indah, gave students a practical demonstration on bioacoustics research methods, including the use of binoculars, audio recorders, cameras and data sheets. Participants were also taught how to interpret sound data to gauge species’ populations.
After an introduction to bioacoustics research, students were divided into three groups for their next activity: hands-on practice! The groups all walked along different transects, approximately 600 metres each.
The students worked in silence, taking care not to disturb their surroundings or talk over one another’s recordings. As well as gathering acoustic data using audio equipment, the groups also attempted sound mapping. For this method, participants sat facing a designated focal point. Then, they closed their eyes and listened intently for 10 minutes, making a note of any sounds heard and the direction of their source.
The students was utilise audio recorder to demonstrate the bioacoustic methods
Photo by Abdul Khafidz | BNF
Throughout the trip, students were encouraged to reflect on the environmental impact of human activities and the importance of conservation efforts in order to preserve Rungan’s rich biodiversity.
For many students, this was their first time in the Rungan Education Forest, and the groups’ enthusiasm was palpable as they walked among the meranti trees (Shorea sp.) that dominate the forest’s canopy.
Tiara, a class XII MIPA student and Chair of the OSIS SMA 9 Palangka Raya, said “Through this field trip, I was able to appreciate the beauty of Mungku Baru’s Forest and the diversity of animals that live here.”
The students also learned to process bioacoustics data using the application Raven Pro. This software was developed by bioacoustics experts at Cornell University for sound acquisition, visualisation, measurement and analysis.
Wendy, the Bioacoustic Researcher give training on data sheets collection
Photo by Abdul Khafidz | BNF
Conservation for the Next Generation
After the field trip, Wendy expressed her hopes that this activity would, “Inspire students to share their experiences with the world, emphasising the extraordinary biodiversity of the Rungan Education Forest and furthering its protection.”
“We are eager to continue developing bioacoustics research in Indonesia, bringing in more and more local experts to establish this method more widely. Indonesia is uniquely blessed with its abundant forests and wildlife, but so far relatively few bioacoustics studies have been conducted here,” she continued.
Petricia Andini Hutasoit, Education Manager with BNF Indonesia, was delighted to see students enjoying their trip into the forest.
“By bringing students out into the field, we hope to spark a lifelong interest in nature and foster a sense of responsibility for their environment. Now, these young people can go home and share their newfound knowledge with friends and family, encouraging the whole community to take better care of their forests. Some of them could even go on to become major decision makers in future, establishing a new generation of conservation leaders,” Petricia added.
All students walk in a transect within the Rungan Education Forest
Photo by Verawati | BNF
This sentiment was echoed by Mrs Maryati, a lecturer in the forestry department at UMPR, who helps manage the 4,910-hectare Education Forest. She believes that conservation cannot succeed without community support, especially the involvement of younger generations. Therefore, she was proud to welcome high schoolers from Mungku Baru into the forest for the first time.
“This is a very valuable experience for empowering communities around the Rungan Education Forest because, before now, these sorts of activities were usually carried out with adults—mothers and fathers—or just delivered to elementary school students at school,” said Mrs Maryati, known informally as Mrs Iyut.
Introducing bioacoustics study to high school students from the local area is a fantastic example of how education can be integrated with real-world research.
The collaboration between UMPR, Cornell University and BNF Indonesia, to create an unforgettable learning experience for these students is the start of a much broader educational journey. By connecting with young people, we aim to shape a new generation of environmental caretakers, encouraging them to explore a variety of careers in science and conservation policy.
Like their footsteps through the Rungan Education Forest, the students’ experience has left indelible marks, inspiring them to protect and seek out the hidden sounds of nature.
“Through this activity, I can learn to be more focused and attentive,” said Stefanus, an eleventh-grade student who was one of the trip’s most eager participants.
Stefanus also hopes that field trips like this can be held frequently, with his continued involvement.
Group photos with all participants in front of Rungan Education Forest camp
Photo by Vera Dwi Safitri | BNF
