Research for Students - Burung Indonesia

Burung Indonesia was established on 15 July 2002, as an independent Indonesian non-government organization, after working for 10 years as the program office of BirdLife International in Indonesia . Burung Indonesia provides opportunities for the public to take practical action to conserve birds and their habitats in Indonesia .

Background
Mbeliling forest area located in the western part of Flores Island, is one of the most important forest ecosystem that still survive on this island. Two main type of habitat on this area are Tropical Moist Semi-evergreen forest and Tropical Moist Desciduous forest, which have been identified as the highest priority status for tropical biodiversity conservation (WCMC 1997). This area is a habitat for 3 out of 4 flores endemic bird, which are Flores Monarch (Monarcha sacerdotum), Wallace’s Hanging-parrot(Loriculus flosculus), and Flores Crow (Corvus florensis). Other 17 restricted area birds also made this area as their home (Trainor and Lesmana 2000).

This area also functioned as a water catchment area for West Manggarai district. The local communities of Mbeliling forest also depend their life on this area to irrigate their farmland and ensure reliable fresh water supply. People also use the plants on this area as foods, construction materials, and traditional medicines. Collecting non-timber products was also important economic activity for the Mbeliling people.

Burung Indonesia together with Dansk Ornitologisk Forening (DOF) and with the support from DANIDA, were implementing a program with an objective to construct a participatory forest management that improve local society livelihood.

One of the activites is building a Low Key Monitoring system (LKM, Pemantauan Lingkungan secara Sederhana). The aim of the project is to design a monitoring system that is jointly implemented by local communities and the officers of Dinas Kehutanan, which is able to detect any changes on the surrounding forest at an early stage. The monitoring results are also going to be used for the long-term management of the entire Mbeliling forest area.

Along with the development process of LKM, Burung Indonesia is opening a chance for Indonesian students, either bachelor or master degree to conduct a research about certain aspects of LKM system. If deemed possible the study will be a twinning-arrangement between the Indonesian student and a student from Denmark. Therefore, the student needs to be willing to work jointly .

Main objective and scope of research

To conduct a field study that is feeding into and increases the usefulness of the LKM system for the Mbeliling area, which in turn has a positive impact on forest quality as well as the quality of life for the local communities living around the Mbeliling forest.

The study can explore how best to technically design a monitoring system in terms of components that give the maximum output in the most cost-effective way: what should be monitored, when and how? The study can also try to answer questions like: how do we ensure full commitment to implement the monitoring jointly from both local communities and staff of Dinas Kehutanan? What are the benefits to the local communities of this monitoring system?

All proposals need to have a convincing and direct relevance on the main objective.

Tasks of the student
1. To conduct the study, including the field study in and around the Mbeliling forest area, with minimum guidance, but in correspondance with, the project staff and DOF
2. To plan logistics and financial aspects with project staff and Burung in Bogor
3. To keep a detailed record of expenditures backed by receipts and submit a final statement of expenditure to the project staff and Burung in Bogor
4. To compose a final study report containing presentation of methodology, empirical data obtained in and around the Mbeliling forest area, data analysis, conclusion and/or recommendations of direct relevance to the LKM-system and the main objective above..

Time frame
The management team of the Mbeliling project will decide, through discussions with the student, the best time to conduct the field studies in Mbeliling

Requierements
1. Bachelor/master degree students with major in Biology, Environmental sciences, Forestry, Agriculture, Sociology, Anthropology.
2. Willing to conduct field study on Mbeliling area, West Manggarai district, East Nusa Tenggara Province.
3. Having good english skills (oral and written).
4. Self motivated

Facilities
For the selected students, Burung Indonesia will provide:

1. Transportation to Labuan Bajo (vice versa)
2. Local expenditure in Mbeliling for study purpose, includes transportation, accomodation, meals.
3. Room and work facilities during the field study.

For interested student may submit an application to Burung Indonesia, at latest on November 21st 2008

The application must consist of:
1. Submission letter
2. Reference letter from lecturer
3. Copy of student ID
4. Copy of ID
5. Detailed concept of research project

The application should be submitted to:
Email: recruit@burung.org
or PO Box.310/BOO, Bogor 16001