East Nusa Tenggara, July 2025 – Twenty-five doctoral students from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), representing the Doctoral Programs in Environmental Science, Geography, and Population Studies, conducted the Sunda Kecil Expedition from July 1–7, 2025. This initiative served as a transdisciplinary learning platform connecting science, culture, and sustainability policy. Four strategic locations were chosen as the focus of the expedition, each illustrating the complex relationship between humans and the environment in the eastern Indonesian archipelago.
- Wae Rebo: Cultural Ecotourism and the Spirit of Sustainability [Read more]
Wae Rebo Village, located in the highlands of Manggarai, served as the expedition’s starting point. Renowned for its traditional conical houses, Mbaru Niang, which encircle the ancestral altar known as Compang, the village exemplifies culture- and environment-based tourism management practices. The local community sustains its economy through homestay services, local coffee production, and traditional weaving, while maintaining ancestral traditions and ecological harmony.
Professor Eko Haryono, Head of the UGM Doctoral Program in Environmental Science, stated, “Environmental education for village children is key to ensuring the continuity of culture-based ecotourism.” The team’s recommendations included training in tourism digitalization, strengthening the promotion of local products, and fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration to build infrastructure that aligns with conservation goals.
- Interactive Talkshow: Weaving Collaboration in Labuan Bajo’s Premium Tourism Zone [Read more]
In the Super-Priority Tourism Destination (DPSP) area of Labuan Bajo, a talk show was held involving the UGM expedition team, Kagama Manggarai alumni, Komodo National Park authorities, El Bajo University, and environmental practitioners. The discussion highlighted key issues such as development inequality between central and peripheral areas, local community preparedness, waste management, and the ecological carrying capacity of tourism sites.
Osmar Shalih, a UGM Geography doctoral student, emphasized that “environmental carrying capacity is a crucial aspect in the design of sustainable tourism areas.” The discussion underscored the importance of building local community capacity, strengthening spatial planning regulations, and enhancing academic–practical collaborations to promote long-term sustainability solutions.
- Labuan Bajo: Marine Richness and Ecological Exploration of Small Tropical Islands [Read more]
The expedition team visited Sebayur, Taka Makassar, Padar, Kalong, and Kelor Islands to observe tropical marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Sebayur Island was identified as an ideal conservation baseline due to its minimal human intervention, while Pink Beach and Padar Island showed signs of tourism pressure that require ecological control. The study also highlighted the importance of conserving fruit bat colonies on Kalong Island and monitoring savanna vegetation dynamics on Kelor Island as key ecological indicators of tropical coastal environments.
The findings reinforce the necessity of carrying-capacity-based management, visitor education, and local community involvement in conservation.
- Komodo: Ancient Reptile Conservation and the Challenges of Ecotourism [Read more]
Komodo Island became the highlight of the expedition, where the team conducted direct field studies on the behavior and habitat of Varanus komodoensis. Students interacted with Komodo National Park rangers and observed a male Komodo dragon, named Thomas, during the mating season. The study reaffirmed that the Komodo dragon represents not only a key species in evolutionary progress but also a symbol of the challenges and opportunities in modern conservation.
Fizul Surya Pribadi, a doctoral candidate in Environmental Science at UGM, remarked, “The Komodo is not merely a biological heritage; it serves as a bridge of knowledge connecting the Earth’s past and its future.” Beyond ecological concerns, the team also identified social issues such as the unequal distribution of tourism-related economic benefits and the limited participation of local residents in the boat tourism industry.
- Supporting the SDGs and Data-Driven Research
The Sunda Kecil Expedition directly supports several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—specifically SDGs 4 (Quality Education), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 13 (Climate Action), 14 (Life Below Water), 15 (Life on Land), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)—through a scientific, participatory, and community-based approach.
This initiative is expected to serve as a foundation for future research, sustainable regional development, and the establishment of a living laboratory that integrates nature conservation, cultural preservation, and equitable development across eastern Indonesia.