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Program Description
While representing only a small percentage of the world's rainforest, the astonishing biodiversity of Australia's rainforest and the country's dynamic conservation efforts make Queensland an extraordinary laboratory for studying rainforest management and restoration. Recent cyclones have further damaged the remaining rainforest fragments, raising questions on how to manage these hyper-disturbed areas. Management strategies developed here will likely serve as a model for conserving the rest of the world's tropical rainforests.
The ecological and economic benefits of rainforests are increasingly well-understood, but much less is known about rainforest ecosystem dynamics and the ability to restore a rainforest once it has been cleared. Our goals are to help understand the dynamics of rainforest ecosystems, including potential impacts of global climate change, and in turn develop rainforest restoration strategies that benefit both ecosystems and human communities.
Student research addresses a critical local and regional environmental problem — loss and fragmentation of once extensive rainforests, and the environmental policies that are currently under consideration by the local and Commonwealth governments. SFS staff and students, in collaboration with local landholders and stakeholder organizations, focus on enhancing the condition of tropical rainforests, as well as determining how we should regenerate and restore the rainforest on the Atherton Tablelands. Students learn field research techniques as they collect data on potential responses to global climate change, habitat use and animal behaviors, resilience to cyclonic events, land-use, local resident involvement in restoration projects, and cost effective and ecologically beneficial methods of restoration. Student work represents a vital contribution toward broader studies on global climate change, biological integrity of rainforest fragments, and developing restoration practices to maximize rates of plant growth and colonization by fauna. Students are actively involved in either rainforest replanting or site maintenance with local landcare groups.
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Program Details
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Credits |
16 environmental studies credits |
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Dates |
Fall 2009: Sept 7 - Dec 10
Spring 2010: Feb 1 - May 6
Summer Session I 2010: June 7 - July 6
Summer Session II 2010: July 12 - Aug 10
Fall 2010: Sept 6 - Dec 9
Spring 2011: Jan 31 - May 5
Summer Session I 2011: June 6 - July 5
Summer Session II 2011: July 11 - Aug 9
Fall 2011: Sept 5 - Dec 7 |
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Location/Base |
Center for Rainforest Studies, Yungaburra, Queensland, Australia. Tour the field station. |
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Total Program Cost |
Fall 2009 / Spring 2010: $16,800 (includes all tuition, room, board, local travel. Fee excludes airfare). |
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Prerequisites |
One semester of college-level ecology or biology; 18 years of age. |
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Financial Aid |
Need-based scholarships and loans available. Visit our financial aid section for more information. |
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Field Research, Lectures, & Exercises |
- Chillagoe: camp in the Outback and explore caves, rock formations, remnant dry rainforests, and eucalypt savannah. Learn firsthand about the history of the Barbaram people.
- Cape Tribulation: walk through lowland rainforests, giant sedges with peppermint stick insects, mangrove forests, and palm forests; traverse the Daintree River, notorious for its crocodiles; visit the canopy tower at the Daintree Environment Centre; sample and examine an array of forest types across the landscape.
- Visit the TREAT (Trees for the Evelyn and Atherton Tablelands Inc.) nursery.
- Learn about the geology and historical geography of the Atherton Tablelands.
- Assess seedling recruitment of restored tropical rainforest at revegetation sites.
- Examine growth and mortality of tropical rainforest species.
- Sample plant functional traits and their effect on drought, frost, and cyclone resistance.
- Examine fauna in endangered plant communities.
- Field research skills development includes: GIS; rainforest management strategies; seedling propagation; timber estimation; social science survey techniques (e.g. interviewing and surveys); transect and patch sampling; data recording and analysis; cost/benefit analysis; valuation methods; experimental design; plant functional trait sampling; restoration techniques.
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Sample Directed
Research |
- Using plant functional traits to predict drought and cyclone resistance.
- Micro bat use of rainforest fragments.
- Use of restored and natural rainforests by rainforest birds.
- Patterns of colonization of restored rainforest by vertebrates.
- Determining carbon sequestration values of rainforest restoration.
- Monitoring the Peterson Creek revegetation project.
- Evaluating policy instruments that are used to tackle environmental problems.
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Community Focus |
Conservation, resource use, and rainforest restoration are extremely important to local farmers, resource managers, and concerned community groups. With the results of our research, we offer advice to local decision-makers and create linkages between our staff and the stakeholders involved in rainforest restoration and management. SFS students enjoy getting involved in community volunteer projects and social activities such as:
- Meeting with Aboriginal elders of the Yidinji, Ngadjon Jii, and Barbaram tribes to learn more about their culture and their effort to reclaim their role in land management.
- Community service trips to help local conservation groups and communities plant rainforest seedlings.
- Participating in annual community fauna surveys such as the crane count (October) and spectacled flying-fox counts (November).
- Attending special lectures on tree kangaroos, spectacled flying fox, rock wallaby, cassowary, and other local wildlife in conjunction with local conservation groups.
- Hosting community dinners and participating in short home stays.
- Bush dances, community festivals, visiting the Malanda theatre, socializing at the local pubs and sporting competitions, such as lawn bowling with Aussies.
- Learning how to make and play didgeridoos.
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Language of Instruction
English
Application Deadline
Rolling admissions. Early submissions encouraged for acceptance into program of your choice.
Housing
The Center for Rainforest Studies lies at the end of the Atherton Tablelands in the heart of the traditional land of the Yidinji people. Protected World Heritage forests and farmland surround the rolling, tropical site. A third of the property's 153 acres is mature rainforest within which the student cabins are nestled. Sightings of tropical birds, bandicoots, pademelons, primitive musky rat kangaroo, amethystine pythons, and other unique rainforest species are common. The site is alive with the sounds of the rainforest. Students share comfortably furnished eight person cabins with adjacent shower and bathroom facilities. The main building has a fully-equipped computer laboratory, 24-hour internet access, up-to-date scientific library, and a student common room. Our kitchen and cook provide nutritious, healthy menus to suit all tastes. Tour the field station.
Courses
Semester students are registered in four academic courses through Boston University:
BI/EE (NS) 369 Rainforest Ecology (4 credits)
EE (NS) 370 Principles of Forest Management (4 credits)
EE (SS) 302 Environmental Policy and Socioeconomic Values (4 credits)
EE 491 or 492 Directed Research (4 credits)
See our course description page for more details.
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