Owing to the wide scope and longevity of our research, OuTrop is now recognised as one of the leading ecological research projects in Indonesia. Using this expertise to help build future local and international capacity for research and conservation has long been an important goal of ours. This is exemplified through our local Staff Development Programme, plus Volunteer, Intern and Student Programmes.
It is thus with great pleasure that we accepted an invitation from the University of Leicester (UK) to run a field module as part of their 2014-15 Masters degree programme in the Department of Geography. OuTrop is closely affiliated with the University of Leicester: our Trustee, Prof. Sue Page is head of the Department of Geography and our Managing Director, Dr Mark Harrison, is an Honorary Visiting Fellow in the department. This field course built upon these existing links, plus our local links with CIMTROP and the University of Palangka Raya.
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| Dr Mark Harrison (front) with the course participants from the University of Leicester. Photo by Suzanne Turnock/OuTrop. |
Led by Dr Harrison with support from Prof. Page and based in the Sabangau Forest, the two-week course addressed the key issues concerning the ecology, biodiversity and conservation of tropical peat-swamp forests. Using a combination of introductory lectures and field observations/tuition, it covered peat-swamp forest ecology, conservation efforts, habitat and ecological monitoring, primate and felid studies and reforestation. This was supplemented by trips to the highly degraded forests of the ex-Mega Rice Project area, BOSF orangutan rehabilitation centre at Nyaru Menteng, plus the local museum and markets.
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| Students exploring the degraded ex-Mega Rice Project. |
The mix of topics and approaches on the course was a great success, which was enjoyed by all of the students… plus the teacher and other OuTrop team members! We hope that the course can be repeated in 2016 and will leave the final words here to the students themselves:
“The content was stellar! So much to do in the right amount of time.”
“Great field experience, I enjoyed the variety of topics and I’m glad we could get experience with each OuTrop project.”
“Plenty of food, good facilities, good accommodation.”
“Loved the support staff, from the interns’ fun jokes to the knowledge and experience of PhD students and Directors.”
Thanks to the students, University of Leicester, CIMTROP, UNPAR and all the OuTrop team for making this a success!
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| Bornean orangutan followed by the course participants while learning how to study primates. Photo by Cody Keesee/OuTrop. |
