The Problem in Context
New Zealand and Australia share a similar Gondwanan ancestry, however indigenous and European settlement patterns and economic development significantly differ between the two countries. In Australia, students discover the critically endangered flora and fauna of the Wet Tropics and the factors that have lead to their disjunct populations. In New Zealand, students take their Australian experiences and examine similarities and differences in political structure, land use patterns, and biogeography. Rainforest ecosystems are a “hot spot” for faunal and floral biodiversity and provide humans with clean air, water, food, and medicines, yet thousands of acres disappear each day. Large areas of northeastern Queensland were once covered in spectacular tropical rainforests, preserving millions of years of evolutionary history, but industrial development and possibly global climate change have destroyed and disrupted rainforest habitat, leaving only a fragmented belt.

Program Description
In this two country summer course, students have the rare opportunity to be part of the initial phase of a long-term research project being conducted in New Zealand and Australia. In the first component, students will compare and contrast the ecological, geographical, social, economic, and historical factors that have shaped natural resource management in both countries. In the second component, students then learn rainforest research field techniques with some of the world's most diverse floral and faunal communities of the Australian rainforest. SFS recommends that students participate in both components of this summer course, though students may opt to enroll in only one component.

Students will visit the kauri forest in New Zealand and by the end of the summer find themselves contrasting it to Australia's tropical rainforest. Students will learn about the conservation of the kiwi in New Zealand and the cassowary in Australia, as well as a comparison of the impacts of fragmentation and invasive species on forests and forest fauna. While keeping field journals, students will hone their field observation techniques and skills. They will compare and contrast how social, political, and historical aspects impact conservation and see the value of how this can be applied to ecosystems in the U.S. Spearheading this program, students will lay the groundwork for all future investigations conducted as part of this summer course.

Benefits

• SFS travel grants for airfare.
• Students earn 8 credits.
• Home school financial aid may be applied towards the program. Earning 8 credits likely will allow students to qualify for federal financial aid, depending on their particular situation.
• Five days off between components for independent travel. Students will be near great locations, such as the Great Barrier Reef.
• No prerequisites.

Highlights

• Learn rainforest research field techniques on unique flora and fauna in Australia which are transferable to any other forest ecosystem in the world.These skills are vital for those who decide to pursue a career in the environmental sector.
• Assess density and diversity of flora and fauna in pristine forests and restoration plots.
• Determine ecosystem types and learn field techniques such as trapping, mapping plots, and spotlighting.
• Learn social science survey techniques and how to quantifiably and qualitatively assess human resource use and how it relates to restoration and conservation.

Course Descriptions

Component I: Natural Resource Management in New Zealand and Australia

Students compare and contrast the ecological, geographical, social, economic, and historical factors that have shaped natural resource management in far north Queensland and northern New Zealand. These two countries share a similar Gondwanan ancestry, however indigenous and European settlement patterns and economic development significantly differ between the two countries. In Australia, students discover the critically endangered flora and fauna of the Wet Tropics and the factors that have lead to their disjunct populations. In New Zealand, students take their Australian experiences and examine similarities and differences in political structure, land use patterns, and biogeography. Field expeditions and exercises include:

• Examine the influence of fragmentation and other impacts on abiotic and biotic attributes of forest communities in Australia and New Zealand.
• Visit the ancient rainforest refugia at Mossman Gorge and Daintree National Park.
• Visit the ancient Kauri forests of northern New Zealand.
• Examine Aboriginal vs. Maori historic land-use practices in Australia and New Zealand.

Course Number: EE (NS) 354 Natural Resource Management in Australia and New Zealand