2025 Dates
2 weeks: 1 week terrestrial & 1 week marine – 13 July – 26 July 2025
2 weeks: 1 week terrestrial & 1 week marine – 20 July – 2 August 2025
4 weeks: 2 weeks terrestrial & 2 weeks marine – 29 June – 26 July 2025
North Buton Forest biodiversity experience
The North Buton Nature Reserve (NBNR; 82,000 ha) represents a mountainous, mostly unexplored area of primary rainforest. The reserve represents an important refuge for the highly unique and threatened wildlife of the Wallacea region. In particular, it is a critical stronghold for the endangered Anoa, a CITES listed species akin to a dwarf-buffalo. Expedition participants will assist a team of biologists documenting rainforest biodiversity found within the NBNR, as well as surrounding secondary forest and farmland areas. Surveys will focus on various taxonomic groups, including birds, reptiles, butterflies and the Anoa. Night searches for nocturnal wildlife will be undertaken along rivers that flow through the reserve, as well as surveys undertaken for frugivorous and insectivorous bats. Survey techniques include point counts (birds), pit-fall trapping (reptiles), sweep nets (butterflies) camera traps (Anoa), as well as mist nets and harp-traps (frugivorous and insectivorous bats). Survey efforts will focus upon Wallacean endemic species that hold the most significance for local conservation efforts. It is possible that previously unrecorded species will be discovered given that surveys will be undertaken in remote forests that remain poorly understood by science. Forest structure (habitat) surveys will assist scientists to better understand the impact of human-induced disturbance (illegal logging and farmland encroachment) upon Wallacea’s unique wildlife communities. Finally, a wildlife ecology course comprising both lectures and practical activities will be offered to all those joining the expedition.
Marine part of the expedition
The Hoga Island Marine Centre is based on a car and bike free island which is in the heart of the Wakatobi Marine National Park and is one of our most heavily published research sites. The Centre hosts up to 90 students and marine biology specialists a week each summer, so you have the opportunity of learning a range of marine survey techniques. You will begin with some training, starting with the opportunity to complete a PADI Open Water dive training course if you would like to learn and aren’t already dive qualified, followed by a compulsory Indo-Pacific reef ecology and reef survey techniques course with practicals by diving or snorkelling. Once the Indo-Pacific reef ecology course has been completed you will then join the research teams and help them to collect data from the coral reefs around the island. This will include the opportunity to assist with stereo-video surveys of reef fish, video surveys of benthic transects, 3D mapping of coral reefs, coral regeneration, behaviour studies on cleaner fish, community structure of butterflyfish, seagrass and mangrove ecology, and marine plastics.
The Coral Triangle is a marine region that spans Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste. This region is recognised for having the highest diversity of marine species anywhere on the planet. At the very heart of the coral triangle, at the epicentre of biodiversity, lies the Wakatobi Marine National Park, the location of Opwall’s marine research base in Indonesia. The Hoga Island Marine Station has been the centre for Opwall’s Indonesian marine research programme for nearly 30 years. During this time, teams of international and Indonesian scientists have worked at this site during the Opwall survey seasons and as a result have produced more than 200 peer-reviewed papers. The research outcomes and discoveries from these studies have had local, national and international significance.
For the last 15 years, Opwall has also been running an extensive monitoring programme around Hoga and eastern Kaledupa for macroinvertebrates, fish communities, coral cover and community structure. In 2025 the long-term monitoring programme will continue, however there will a new research focus introduced. With recent changes in benthic community structure and a reduction in the size and abundance of many reef fish species that have occurred in the Wakatobi, our long-term research goal is to understand the trophic consequences of these changes, and develop an ecosystem model to represent the dynamics of the Wakatobi region. To support these goals, in 2025 research projects will focus on the assessing the consequences of shifts from coral to sponge dominated states and investigating the potential of deep reefs to provide refugia for sharks, rays and other predatory fish.
The Wallacea region within the Indonesian archipelago has been isolated from continental land masses for millennia. Deep ocean trenches have prevented land-bridge connections during periods of lowered sea levels. The resulting long periods of isolation have lead to the evolution of high levels of endemism across the Wallacea region such that today it is recognised as a global hotspot for biodiversity.
Throughout the tropical regions of the world, the clearing of rainforests for agriculture and illegal logging practices have led to the degradation of the most biodiverse regions on the Earth. The North Buton Nature Reserve is a critically important protected area for the conservation of biodiversity within the Wallacea region. Despite this, the reserve remains under constant threat from local farming communities seeking to convert rainforest into farmland as well as logging of trees within the reserve for high value commercial timber.
Operation Wallacea’s terrestrial research project in Indonesia seeks to understand the impact of human-induced disturbance upon highly unique and threatened rainforest communities found within the Wallacea region. Biodiversity surveys will be undertaken within primary forest habitats found deep within the North Buton Nature Reserve as well as disturbed forest sites located on the periphery of the reserve and on adjacent farmland. Such research provides important insight into understanding how different rainforest species are impacted by human activity, enabling the identification of endemic species most vulnerable to disturbance and as such a priority for conservation.
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 North Buton Forest Camp is set up with camp beds and mosquito nets inside large communal tents, and a hammock sleeping area. There is a communal eating area and a forest lecture theatre. The camp has a basic field toilet and shower system, or bathing can also be done in the nearby river (recommended!). There is no phone signal at the forest camp.
In Central Camp all accommodation here is in hammocks with mosquito nets, and there are basic washing facilities built into the river, and trench style toilets. There is a covered eating area and all meals are cooked in camp by local staff. Lectures are also held in camp.
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, class room spaces, data analysis labs, 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 if you get an Indonesian sim card at the airport when you land in Indonesia.
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