Area of research: Anthropology, climate change, sustainable development 

This project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade KONEKSI program (Knowledge Partnership Platform Australia – Indonesia). 

This transdisciplinary research project will document the status of living natural capital (biodiverse natural resource) assets across different marine, coastal and terrestrial environments to be able to assess climate change mitigation strategies. It will provide baseline data across 40,000 ha in West Kalimantan. The research aims to (1) provide government agencies and communities with a baseline measure of natural capital across the urban, agricultural, coastal and forested landscapes (2) develop prediction models of how land use, land cover and targeted species might shift with climate change, and (3) provide local indigenous communities with tools and training for data engagement and field validation. This knowledge will inform how successful current or future mitigation strategies are in maintaining or enhancing these natural capital assets across regions and landscapes.  

Murdoch University academics involved in this project include Prof Giles Hardy (Lead), Prof Neil Loneragan (IPRC) and A/Prof Carol Warren (IPRC), will collaborate with colleagues from BRIN the Indonesian national agency for research, and Indonesian researchers at the Institute Pertanian Bogor, Pontianak Polytechnic and University Nusa Cendana. Currently, permit processes for technology transfer are in train and fieldwork is scheduled for early 2024.

Sponsor