Program Description
Rainforest ecosystems are a “hot spot” for fauna and floral biodiversity and provide humans with clean air, water, food, and medicines. Still, 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. Timber felling, farming and development have destroyed and disrupted rainforest ecosystems and habitats leaving fragile fragments that are often too small or isolated to sustain some species. Though many of Australia’s tropical forests and species are now protected under World Heritage legislation, they are faced with continual threats due to climate change and invasive species. And similarly, only fragments of northern New Zealand’s ancient forests remain to house the endemic fauna and flora.

Research Focus
Session I: Tropical Rainforest Management Studies 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 Australia and northern New Zealand. These two countries share a similar Gondwanan history; however, European settlement patterns, indigenous histories and economic development significantly differ between the two countries. In New Zealand, students discover its critically endangered flora and fauna and the impacts that have led to their decline. In Australia, students take their New Zealand experiences and examine similarities and differences in political structure, co-management arrangements, land use patterns, and biogeography.

Session II: Techniques for Rainforest Research in Australia
Examining the effects of fragmentation in highly endangered rainforest systems, students explore Australia’s tropical rainforests and develop effective field research skills in multiple disciplines while learning about rainforest restoration and conservation.

Benefits of taking both courses:

• 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.

Credits	8 environmental studies credits (4 per session)
Dates	Session I 2011: June 6 - July 5 Session II 2011: July 11 - August 9
Location	Session I: Northern New Zealand and North Queensland, Australia  Session II: North Queensland, Australia
Program Tuition & Fess	Program Total: $9,300 ($570 discount for enrolling in both sessions) Session I Total: $5,240                Tuition: $3,500               Fees: $1,740 (includes all tuition, room, board, local travel. Fee excludes airfare) Session II Total: $4,630                Tuition: $3,500                Fees: $1,130 (includes all tuition, room, board, local travel. Fee excludes airfare)
Prerequisites	College Undergraduates: No academic prerequisite High School Students: 16 years of age; good academic standing; completion of at least junior year of high school
Financial Aid	Need-based scholarships and loans available; travel grants. Visit our financial aid section for more information.
Research Focus/Theme	Biogeographic history and conservation of highly endangered and fragmented rainforest communities; putting people into the matrix - developing natural resource management policies that work; field techniques for sampling rainforest faunal communities, floral communities, and social and economic variables associated with rainforest use.
Field Research, Lectures, & Exercises	Session I: 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. Session II: Sampling design, GPS and GIS techniques, plant identification, forest survey techniques, animal survey methods and social science research techniques.  Experience largely intact lowland forest and contrast with the fragmentation effects impacting the rainforests of the upper Tablelands.

Language of Instruction
English

Application Deadlines
Rolling admission

Housing
While in New Zealand, student accommodations will be at various lodges (included in program costs). The Australia accommodations are eight person cabins at the The SFS Center for Rainforest Studies, in the heart of the Australian rainforest.

Students who are unable to commit to the full eight weeks to complete both components may apply for one session only. Please contact the admissions department to further discuss this option: admissions@fieldstudies.org

Courses
Summer students are registered in one academic course accredited through Boston University:
Session I: Tropical Rainforest Management Studies in New Zealand and Australia EE (NS) 354
Session II: Techniques for Rainforest Research in Australia EE (NS) 355
See our course description page for more details.

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