German Alumni Summer School 2009

Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity ; Does Nature Conservation Need New Strategies?’

09 -16 of March, 2009 Sam Ratulangi University, Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia


Climate change and its impact on biodiversity has become the main issue in recent times. The climate is changing rapidly due to human activities especially burning of fossil fuels and enormous CO2 output. Many studies indicated the correlation between deforestation, species loss and climate change. One of the serious efforts to minimize or mitigate the emission of CO2 is to generate and use bioenergy. As the demand for this alternative energy is rapidly increasing, large areas of rainforest are being opened and altered to palm oil plantations and other types of plantation to supply the raw materials for biofuel. This can adversely accelerate climate change and biodiversity loss. Specifically in tropical countries like Indonesia, a paradox concerning bioenergy and carbon stocks is emerging as a key issue and needs to be resolved.


Officials and some of the participants of the German Alumni Summer School, 2009 at Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia


Therefore with an aim to discuss the impact of climate change on biodiversity and to seek the solution for sustainable development, this Alumni Summer School was jointly organised by the Centre for Nature Conservation, Georg-August University, Gottingen, Germany and the Sam Ratulangi University, Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Another important agenda of this Summer School was to build up the coordination between the various southeast Asian Alumni networks like the SEAG (South East Asian Germany Alumni-Network) and BIODICS-Alnet (Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Network) Indonesia. This Summer School was funded by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) and targeting scientists, experts, representatives of NGOs, local government officials and German Alumni from various countries like Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia and Germany. The opening day of the Summer School was presided over by Prof. Dr. Donald A. Rumokoy, Rector of UNSRAT (University of Sam Ratulangi) and Dr. Karen von Juterzenka (DAAD Jakarta) with key note addresses by resource persons from Germany and Australia. The first day’s activities also included the grouping of the Alumni participants for discussing on such issues like climate change and tropical rainforest, fisheries, marine biodiversity and climate change, effects of climate change on agriculture and biodiversity management as an important means to reduce climate change.
The second day’s activities were marked by presentations by the Alumni participants from Indonesia and India followed by discussions with Government officials, plantation managers and NGOs. This was followed by the International Seminar on the third day as a joint event between Centre for Nature Conservation, Georg-August University, Gottingen, IGN-TTRC, Kassel University Germany and the Sam Ratulangi University, Manado Indonesia. About 100 academic staff, students, representatives of NGOs and government officials attended the International Seminar. Some of the invited international speakers from Germany, India, Australia, Philippines and Indonesia delivered presentations on key issues relating to the link between biodiversity, climate change, molecular biology and agriculture.


Prof. Dr. Donald A Rumokoy, Rector of Sam Ratulangi University and other officials


Dr. Karen von Juterzenka from DAAD, Jakarta at the German Alumni Summer School at Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia


Prof. Jose Carandang from De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines speaking about the current issues on climate change and biodiversity in Philippines at the International Seminar organised in collaboration with University of Kassel and Georg-August University, Germany and Sam Ratulangi University, North Sulawesi, Indonesia


Dr. Jolanta Slowik from Georg-August University, Gottingen speaking about bioenergy and what does it mean for biodiversity and nature conservation in Europe at the Alumni Summer School in
Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

As part of the field excursion program to understand the problems of climate change and its adverse impacts on the marine ecosystem, specifically relating to coral bleaching and threats to the mangroves, the participants had the opportunity to visit the Bunaken Island Marine National Park. This Marine National Park is globally famous for its high coral diversity, being a part of the Coral Triangle Zone and an important marine conservation site. The UNESCO has organised in Manado, the World Ocean Conference in May, 2009 to build commitment for sustainable management of marine resources. The Summer school participants had an opportunity to interact with the National Park officials for discussion on the impact of human activities like uncontrolled garbage disposal, sedimentation, over-fishing, coral-bombing and tourism on both the aquatic and land ecosystems.


Coral bleaching, coral bombing in the waters surrounding Bunaken Island and uncontrolled garbage disposal are serious threats to the coastal environment at Bunaken Island



Bunaken Island Marine National Park – a part of the Coral Triangle Zone

On the closing day of the workshop, the working groups made their presentations on the issues relating to identification of impacts and problems of climate change and possible solutions, integrating biodiversity management for priority mitigation actions (involvement of related stakeholders) and implementation of strategies by education and policy makers. The Centre for Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture and Forestry (CeTSAF-Tropenzentrum), Georg-August University, Germany also played an important role in defining the contribution of Alumni networks to mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Additionally, the alumni networks and future programs of SEAG-BIODICS were also discussed and at the end all participants were awarded with the Summer School Certificate. The Summer School in Manado came to a successful closing with all the participants aiming to strengthen the Alumni network and formulating an agenda for the next meeting to discuss issues dealing with nature conservation and global change.