Imagine hiking up a volcano so rich in biodiversity that you would find three types of forests as you ascend its heights. Throughout these fifteen years of my life, I had never known that my neighboring country, Indonesia, is the richest country in the world; richest in biodiversity that is. My family would often spend our vacation visiting national parks such as Yosemite or Yellowstone in the United States. We did not realize that nature’s true diversity and beauty is only a short flight away to North Sumatra.
Our group was so fortunate to have Thom Henley as our guide. Thom Henley is not only an experienced environmentalist who has worked with the all-famous Jane Goodall and has made huge conservation efforts but he is also an amazing speaker. I was touched by the way he taught us and talked to us with such a kind and caring heart. He wanted everything to go our way. Mr.Henley’s passion for saving the endangered Sumatran orangutans inspired me to want to take action and make a difference as well. I honestly felt honored when Thom mentioned that ISB was his favorite school.
Over the course I learned that Indonesia is home to an astonishing 24% of the world’s species, which is even more than Brazil’s Amazon rainforest. Thom told us that experts found 200 species in one square meter in a forest in Indonesia. I don’t think any other GCW trip had the chance to learn about and explore three different types of ecosystems like we did. Through plunging into Lake Toba’s freezing waters we learned about the formation of this massive crater Lake. A challenging hike up and down the scenic volcano which resulted in mud stained pants and bruises all over taught us how a volcanic eruption can create very rich and diverse environments. Jungle trekking through Bukit Lawang’s dense forest and encountering an orangutan informed us of the ecology of a rainforest and warned us about the threat of losing a keystone species. Overall, I greatly enjoyed Thom’s style of learning through experience and through each other.
Throughout our adventures, the global issue we were introduced to and mainly focused on is the deforestation for palm oil
plantations. Palm oil seems like an ‘essential’ resource in so many people’s lives because it has become a part of so many products we use daily. A high demand for palm oil calls for more deforestation in Indonesia. After thirty years the palm oil trees become less efficient in producing palm oil. Instead of cutting down these trees and replanting, palm oil industries would find new forest to cut down because they know that they can make more money by selling this timber. Palm oil plantations have become a life threatening issue to Indonesia’s biodiversity. But as consumers, we have the power and the option to not buy palm oil products and save nature!
I had an incredible eight days of adventure, fun, challenges, relaxation, learning through experience, community service, friendship bonding, and so much more over the course of this global citizenship week in North Sumatra. It was a very special one to me, one I would never forget.