The Ecology of Eastern Indonesia (9780804860437)

The definitive reference on the ecology, biodiversity and human communities of eastern Indonesia.

The Ecology of Eastern Indonesia is a comprehensive exploration of the natural environments, biodiversity and human communities of Indonesia's eastern islands stretching from Bali to Timor. Covering all the islands of Nusa Tenggara and Maluku, the book examines the unique ecological characteristics that make these islands one of the world's most significant centers of biological diversity and endemism. It combines scientific research with insights into history, culture, land use, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and conservation—showing how people and nature have interacted over time. As one of the few authoritative references on this region, it provides readers with a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing these ecosystems.

This fascinating book covers all aspects of eastern Indonesia's ecology, including:

• Geography and Natural History: An overview of the region's geology, climate, landscapes and environmental history
• Biodiversity and Ecosystems: Detailed coverage of the islands' distinctive flora, fauna, forests, savannas, wetlands, coastal habitats and coral reefs
• Human Communities and Traditional Resource Use: Examination of local cultures, livelihoods, agriculture, fisheries and traditional environmental knowledge
• Environmental Change and Conservation: An analysis of threats to biodiversity, habitat loss, resource management challenges and conservation issues
• Sustainable Development and Future Prospects: Discussions of how economic development, population growth and environmental stewardship can be balanced for long-term sustainability

This book is invaluable for researchers, students, policy makers, educators, travelers and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the ecology, biodiversity and human-environment relationships in eastern Indonesia.


About the Author:
Kathyrn A. Monk has a degree in ecology from the University of Durham in the U.K. She gained her doctorate from Imperial College at Silwood Park in 1981, with a dissertation in Ecological Entomology and spent the following years doing research and development work in Africa, the Middle East and the Far East. She first worked in Indonesia in 1985, with the Project Wallace expedition to Dumogo-Bone National Park. From 1991 to 1995, she was a long-term advisor for the Environmental Management Development in Indonesia programme. She is currently the coordinator for the Research, Monitoring and Information Division for the EU-funded Leuser Development Program in Sumatra.

Yance De Fretes graduated from Cenderawasih University in Irian Jaya, with a degree in Educational Biology. After leaving university, he worked for the WWF for four years before doing a Masters degree at the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at Yale University. Upon completing his MSc, he moved to the Faculty of Forest Sciences at the University of British Columbia, where he pursued doctoral studies. He is now the Area Coordinator for lrian Jaya for Conservation International.

Gayatri Reksodiharjo-Lilley holds a Masters degree in Conservation from the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology at the University of Kent, U.K. She has undertaken extensive research throughout Indonesia on coral reefs and field surveys with the Directorate General for Forest Protection and Nature Conservation (PHPA). She worked for the Marine Conservation Program of the WWF Indonesia for five years and is now based in Jakarta as the WWF Indonesia Marine Coordinator.