Borneo

Who are we?
Ethical Expeditions is a non-profit school without walls that works to conserve our natural world by taking small groups of students on eight week educational expeditions. We believe that helping to conserve our environment is not a spectator sport.
Working with international organizations and local communities in environmentally sensitive areas around the world, students have the opportunity to make a real and lasting impact. Through field work, community discussions, research and time in nature, our expeditions prepare students to lead environmentally ethical lives.

Why Borneo? Borneo is home to some of the richest and most diverse tropical
forests on the planet. This diversity is disappearing at an alarming rate due to the destruction of the rainforest for logging and conversion to agriculture. Because of this destruction, Borneo is presently the world’s third largest emitter of carbon dioxide (after China and the United States). At this very moment, international and local organizations are working to conserve the remaining forests of Borneo and Ethical Expeditions is assisting in this effort. Our ridges to reefs expedition provides students with the rare opportunity to learn about and visit remote rainforests, indigenous Dayak communities and pristine coral reefs. Students will understand how the survival of the reefs is linked to that of the rainforest.

Expedition Sites:
Each site has been carefully selected to include the social, environmental and economic components of sustainable development.


Samboja Lestari (10 days)
Called “the greatest re-forestation project on the planet,” Samboja Lestari is the ideal location to begin our expedition. Students will have the opportunity to learn the science behind this project as well as managing endangered animals. They will have first hand experience working with either the sun bears, orangutans or helping with the reforestation project. The beautiful Samboja Lodge will be an inspiring setting for afternoon discussions and group work. Side trips will be taken to a nearby protected rainforest and a sun bear education project.


Karst Area (3 days) -
The most ecologically important karst region in Borneo is found in East Kalimantan. This area is home to unique flora and fauna found nowhere else on the island and will serve to contrast other areas studied. Students will enter this beautiful area by boat and will camp near the limestone cliffs at night. Students may be able to participate in surveying the unique flora and fauna of this area as well as have time to explore the caves. This is the area where The Nature Conservancy found a population of approximately 2000 previously undiscovered Orangutans.


Wehea Protected Forest (10 days) -
Supported by The Nature Conservancy and working with the indigenous Dayak community, students will have the opportunity to experience a remote and highly important rainforest. Home to a large population of orangutans as well as gibbons, hornbills and countless other species, this project is a leading example of sustainable forest management. Students will have the rare opportunity to work with local rangers to explore, monitor and help to protect this high priority rainforest. Having the opportunity to visit and work in a remote rainforest like this will be a life-changing experience for students. Our group will sleep at The Nature Conservancy research station, which will serve as an inspiring location for group discussions and student research.

Lesan and Segah Protected Areas (7 days) -
Supported by The Nature Conservancy and working with the indigenous Dayak communities, students will have the opportunity to experience two remote and important conservation areas. The indigenous communities from both areas are undergoing unprecedented and immediate change as palm oil plantations threaten their traditional way of life. Students will have the opportunity to speak with members of each community and learn about the challenges each faces. Depending on the time of year, students may even be able to participate in a traditional Harvest Celebration. Our group will stay both within each community as well as at The Nature Conservancy research station.

Derawan Islands (10 days) -
The Derawan Islands represent one of the most important breeding areas for the endangered green sea turtle. The Berau Joint Marine Program TNC-WWF is working to protect these breeding grounds. Students will have the opportunity to stay within local communities and will participate in conservation activities for the green sea turtles. We will also explore this incredibly rich marine ecosystem by snorkeling and SCUBA (if certified). This final stop on our expedition will demonstrate how the survival of this ecosystem is dependent upon the health of the rainforest.