The Indonesian archipelago harbors great biological diversity. Working closely with Indonesian professionals from the Bogor Herbarium, NETC has developed a program for plant exploration in the mountain forests of this vast and beautiful nation.

Carrying the coveted Explorer’s Club flag, NETC’s founder, Scott Hoover, and Vice President, Jim Hunter, have been the first scientists to ascend the three central mountains of Halimun National Park in West Java as well as other mountains on Sumatra, Sulawesi and Sumbawa. These expeditions have yielded new insights into species diversity and made important information available to scientists worldwide. Locally our collection of tropical plants is an important educational tool and research opportunity for students in our area.

The Indonesian Botanical Exploration and Taxonomy Project (IBETP)
The Indonesian Botanical Exploration and Taxonomy Project

This 5-year program of botanical exploration, floristic inventory and taxonomy of Indonesia’s tropical forests is organized in cooperation with Indonesia’s Herbarium Bogorience and the Department of Botany, U.S. National Herbarium, Smithsonian Institution. It is scheduled to begin in 2008.

The core objective is biodiversity conservation as executed from a capacity building perspective. Indonesian scientists will be responsible for exploration, specimen analysis and publication of results. Indonesian students will be trained and supported in masters level study. This institutional development of the Bogor Herbarium and concomitant development of trained scientists will pave the way for and expand Indonesia’s capacity to understand and conserve its forest resources.

The project will begin in 2008. Scott Hoover, NETC Director of Research, is project leader. Dr. Harry Wiriadinata, Senior Botanist, Bogor Herbarium, is a principal scientist. They will lead international teams of botanists to explore the montane forests of the island of Sulawesi, a large island of much biological and evolutionary interest. They will also oversee exploration, collection and taxonomic analysis (identification, classification and naming of new species). This basic exploration and taxonomy work will make available critical knowledge for further research and for conservation. Scott Hoover anticipates the discovery of a considerable number of new plant species.

The Hunter Research Project also provides opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. Project planners estimate that approximately 20 students from American colleges and universities will receive field experience or conduct doctoral research as part of the project. Ten Indonesian students will receive Master’s degrees and approximately 22 Indonesian students and technicians will gain field experience and training.

Click on the link in the left hand sidebar for a report on the launch of IBETP and the first field expeditions in Spring 2008.