2023 Dates
2 weeks: 1 week terrestrial & 1 week marine – 23 July – 5 August 2023
Fully Booked
4 weeks: 1 week terrestrial, 3 weeks marine – 2 July – 29 July 2023
4 weeks: 1 week terrestrial, 3 weeks marine – 9 July – 5 August 2023
Click Here for Expedition Dates
Langkube Valley Forest biodiversity experience
The Langkube Valley lies within the North Buton Nature Reserve (82,000 ha) and represents a vast area of unexplored, primary rainforest. The region supports an array of different habitats that remain largely unknown to science. Importantly, it is also a stronghold for the endangered Anoa, a CITES listed dwarf buffalo. After completing training in jungle survival skills (which can include a canopy access course for an additional cost) and learning about Wallacean wildlife and conservation, volunteers will assist a team of biologists documenting the valley’s rich biodiversity. Biologists will focus on mammalian, avian and herpetological assemblages together with forest structure and carbon surveys. Particular attention will be given to records of endangered Sulawesi endemics, such as the Anoa and the Maleo, both rarely sighted but critically important species for local conservation efforts. There exists a high likelihood that new species records for Buton Island will be made given that this expedition will be working in remote and previously unsurveyed forests. Survey techniques include the use of camera traps, distance and patch occupancy estimates for large mammal species, mist netting for bats, Pollard counts for butterflies, standard search transects for reptiles, spotlight surveys for amphibians, and point counts for birds. There is also the opportunity to complete a half day course which will train you into how access the tree canopy using ropes and ascenders (this is an optional course costing £190).
Marine part of the expedition
The Hoga Island marine centre is our largest marine research site with teams of marine scientists based. The Centre which is based on a car and bike free island which is in the heart of the Wakatobi Marine National Park and it hosts up to 120 marine biology specialists and students a week each summer, so you have the opportunity of learning a greater range of marine survey techniques. In your first week, you have the opportunity of completing a PADI Open Water dive training course or completing the Indo-Pacific reef ecology course with practicals by diving. For the second week those who have completed their dive training then do the Indo-Pacific reef ecology course with dive based practicals. Once the Indo-Pacific reef ecology course has been completed you will then move onto learning specific marine biodiversity survey techniques including stereo-video surveys of reef fish, video surveys of benthic transects, 3D mapping of coral reefs, behaviour studies on cleaner fish, coral regeneration, community structure of butterflyfish, seagrass and mangroves, marine plastics and many other projects.
There is a triangle of reefs in Eastern Indonesia that have the highest diversity of hard coral genera, the proxy commonly used to assess overall diversity of coral reefs, anywhere in the world. The Hoga Island Marine Station is located in the heart of the Wakatobi Marine National Park. Over the last 20 years, a series of scientists have been based at this site during the Opwall survey seasons and as a result, this is now the most published site in the Coral Triangle. For the last 15 years a series of constant monitoring sites around Hoga and eastern Kaledupa have been monitored for macroinvertebrates, fish communities, coral cover and community structure. The 2021 season will complete this monitoring plus some additional projects.
The Wallacea region comprises islands of the central part of the Indonesian archipelago that are separated by deep ocean trenches which prevented them from being joined to the main continental land masses during the lowered sea levels of the Ice Ages. As a result of subsequently long periods of isolation, a large number of unique species evolved. The forests of the Wallacea region are one of the least biologically studied areas in the world and one of the most likely places to discover vertebrate species new to science. Since 1995, the Opwall teams have been surveying the biodiversity of Buton Island in SE Sulawesi, so that more information is now available on the wildlife of this well studied area than anywhere else in the Wallacea region. The Opwall gathered data are being used to assess the impacts of potential carbon offset funding schemes in protecting the carbon and biodiversity of the forests and ensure that local communities have a financial benefit from this conservation programme.
Most of our volunteers fundraise for their expedition costs. Find out more.
Climate
In the tropical rainforests of Indonesia is is generally warm during the day (around 25 degrees Celsius), and humid, with up to 80% humidity. At night the temperatures drop lower, but not usually lower than around 15 degrees Celsius. It rains very frequently, and very heavily at times, but for short periods.
At the marine sites during the day, the weather is normally sunny and warm (around 30 degrees Celsius), and the night temperatures drop to around 20-25 degrees Celsius. Being on the coast means there is often a pleasant breeze so it does not always feel this hot. It rains rarely, but when it does it tends to be very heavy for short periods of time.
Fitness level required
High for the forest sites. You will need to hike for long periods, over steep and muddy terrain, at times with your large rucksack. At the marine sites some fitness is required for in water activities, but conditions are relatively easy.
Creature comforts
The Hoga Island Marine Station is an established facility that lies within the Wakatobi Marine Park of eastern Indonesia. The station was rebuilt in 2016 and supports a dive centre, lecture theatre, wet-lab as well as a large dining room and kitchen facility. Simple huts owned by members of the local fishing community surround the station and serve as guest accommodation. The island supports reliable phone signal that allows limited internet access.
Find out all about how you could fundraise for an expedition.
Learn more
© 2023 Operation Wallacea Ltd. Website by Yello Media.
Social Media Links