Singapore University of Social Sciences

Conservation and Development Practices in Lombok

Conservation and Development Practices in Lombok (OEL319)

Synopsis

The main objective of OEL319 is to provide students with the conceptual tools and learning experiences to develop a deeper understanding of conservation practices in Lombok. This objective will be achieved through a combination of team-based experiential learning, e-learning, classroom activities, and participation in an overseas trip to Lombok, Indonesia. Due to subsistence activities such as dynamite fishing, the natural habitats along the coastal areas of North-East Lombok have been seriously damaged. Prime amongst the habitats are mangroves and coral reefs, which serve as essential nurseries for young fish. As a result, one of the villagers’ primary food source is being threatened, leading to economic losses and hence transformation in economic practices that disrupt traditional ways of life. The conservation of aquatic food sources is also part of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, which focuses on the sustainable governance of oceans and coasts and which also recognises the mangroves’ immense value. Restoring mangrove forests also supports the achievement of many other SDGs, including eliminating poverty and hunger (SDG 1 and SDG 2), ensuring livelihoods and economic growth (SDG 8), taking actions against climate change impacts (SDG 13) and halting biodiversity loss (SDG 15). In order to maintain harmony between the pursuit of economic development and traditional cultural practices, several NGOs have cooperated with the locals to step up the conservation of the mangrove forests and coral habitats. This course encourages students to critically analyse the complexity in achieving developmental sustainability in the context of Lombok and Singapore, and how environmental, social and economic factors shape conservation practices in both countries. Through working directly on conservation-related projects in Lombok and Singapore, students will not only learn about the challenges and opportunities in environmental conservation, but also get to reflect critically on the latter’s relationship to the impact of economic development on traditional ways of life.

Level: 3
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: Every July

Topics

  • Experiential learning
  • Basic mangrove and coral ecology and biology in South-East Asia
  • Tourism and conservation in Lombok
  • Sustainable economic development in Lombok and Singapore
  • Preparation and design of the overseas experiential learning project: service-learning activities, liaising with local community partner(s), safety and emergency response, project management, cultural sensitivity
  • Preparation and design of the local experiential learning project: service-learning activities, liaising with local community partner(s), safety and emergency response

Learning Outcome

  • Identify issues and challenges in conservation practices in Lombok
  • Examine key features of the mangrove and coral ecosystem
  • Explain the roles of governments and communities in shaping conservation practices and sustainable economic development
  • Apply social scientific perspectives to relate conservation practices to the issue of sustainable economic development in Indonesia
  • Deconstruct preconceptions about conservation and economic development in Singapore and Lombok
  • Construct new ways to address the tensions between conservation and economic development in Singapore and Lombok that takes into consideration the native contexts
  • Examine how assumptions behind new approaches shape the way selected issues are addressed
  • Verify new approaches with stakeholders
  • Appraise team members’ roles and responsibilities in shaping team-based experiential learning
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