Join us on the beautiful tropical islands of Tahiti and Moorea in French Polynesia as we embark on a marine-focused investigation of coral reef ecosystems and cultural revival. Our multi-disciplinary approach will allow students to learn essential field research skills designed to support the environmental sustainability of the islands. The team will gain a deep understanding of marine ecosystems, the heightened challenge of climate change, and approaches to solving complex, social-ecological conservation concerns.

In Tahiti and Moorea, team members will take part in firsthand investigations of the tropical marine ecosystems of French Polynesia to contribute to the understanding and preservation of the Fenua (country in Tahitian language). Lagoons, rainforests, dramatic volcano summits above 6500 feet, and waterfalls will become our classroom to study the ecology, conservation, and management of the rich wildlife, changing environmental conditions and social-cultural contexts.

Background Information

French Polynesia includes five island groups over a surface of 5 million square kilometers. Society Islands, the best-known group, form a geologically young volcanic archipelago that includes Tahiti and Moorea, famous for their postcard picture beaches. Within a few million years, these islands have become home to many unique organisms able to disperse across the vast Pacific. Several evolved into new species found nowhere else. Today, French Polynesia hosts an array of vibrant tropical wildlife, and endemic species alone include 50 birds, 500 vascular plants, 240 marine mollusks, 80 marine fish, and even 15 freshwater fish species.

Being isolated and having evolved around very small land surfaces, the biodiversity of Tahiti and Moorea is particularly vulnerable and has already experienced two major crises. The first impact was the arrival of the Polynesian people more than a thousand years ago. These advanced navigators brought crops (known as ‘canoe plants’) necessary to settle the new islands, as well as pigs, chickens, and dogs. Their introductions alone were enough to severely upset the ecological balance of the islands. But an even more dangerous canoe passenger, the rat, precipitated the extinction of many defenseless birds, plants, and insects that had evolved without mammal predators.

The arrival of European settlers had a second significant and detrimental impact on the Polynesian Islands. Their land use and agricultural practices caused habitat loss, overexploitation and forced the islanders to abandon sustainable practices used for hundreds of years to manage their natural resources. Most of these changes took place on land, and marine life remained relatively spared even as tourism boomed through the 20th century.

These last few decades, however, have seen an increase of concerns for the marine ecosystem – and now much-needed action. Symptoms of global warming such as sea-level rise and precipitation changes on the islands impact the coral reef ecosystem. Similarly, industrial fishing and marine tourism damage the surrounding sea. Over the last fifteen years, French Polynesia has started establishing initiatives to combat this degradation. In 2012, the government created the largest shark sanctuary in the world, providing a safe haven for more than 20 species of sharks, and a movement is currently growing to offer better protection to its 1024 fish and 176 coral species. Pressured by development, tourism and a changing climate, the people of French Polynesia are looking to make informed decisions concerning their future. Their rapidly changing environment highlights the importance of research and monitoring efforts so that long-term ecological trends can be better understood.

Program Goals and Activities

The overarching goal on this program is for students to learn key field research skills designed to support the environmental sustainability of the islands, participate in local conservation projects, become acquainted with the region’s cultural history and diverse ecology, and learn how French Polynesia is being impacted by climate change. We will hone our skills as naturalists and learn through observation, discussions, journaling, lectures, field activities, and where possible, connect with local organizations and researchers to discuss current management challenges.

Through this program, we will cover the following topics in-depth: 

Marine Ecosystem and Coral Reef Habitats
How is climate connected to the oceans and what are the consequences of the imbalance of carbon cycles? Why are Tahiti, Moorea, and surrounding islands considered a climate refuge for coral reefs in the face of increasing coral bleaching events? Students will learn how coral reef ecosystems develop over thousands of years and why these delicate ecosystems are so sensitive to change. They will develop their own field research projects to understand and possibly contribute to this pressing scientific issue.

Island Biogeography and Natural History
How did the Society Islands form? What flora and fauna exist in Tahiti and Moorea? What is the impact of non-native species on biodiversity? Students will answer these questions and more by investigating lagoons, streams, mangroves, rainforests, and summits to identify key species, joining ongoing monitoring projects and interacting with local experts.

Polynesian Culture and Society: Past, Present, and Future
What navigational tools and environmental cues did the Polynesians rely on as they embarked on long oceanic voyages across the Pacific? How is the almost abandoned concept of ‘Rahui’ (the temporal or spatial restriction on resource harvesting) being implemented back into the modern context of conservation legislation? From the early settlement of Tahiti to modern society, students will gain an in-depth understanding of the rich culture in Polynesia, the deep relationship between Polynesians and the environment, and the current struggles they face to preserve their culture, identity, resources, and livelihoods.  

Environmental Policy, Sustainability, Conservation, and Social Science
What steps are taken to protect these islands against invasive species? Why are plans for the establishment of a large Marine Protected Area in Polynesia not yet successful? Conservation challenges, environmental pressures, economic growth, and sustainable farming and fishing methods will be discussed and analyzed.  Students will engage with stakeholders, critically analyze environmental policy case studies, and investigate the human element of environmental science.

Research and Technical Field Skills
Our team will learn and practice various methods of conducting scientific fieldwork both in and out of the water, and gain skills in observing, recording and reporting environmental data.

All field methods and data gathering techniques will be taught on-site in French Polynesia. No prior research experience is required. Our primary requirement is that you are enthusiastic, adaptable, genuinely open-minded, and ready and willing to learn. We look forward to you joining us and sharing this once-in-a-lifetime experience together.

Academic Credit

Academic Credit

Students will receive 15 quarter credits/10 semester credits from Western Washington University. If necessary, our staff will be happy to explain the program in further detail to the applicant’s advisor. This field studies program gives credit in three courses:

Environmental Wildlands Studies (5 quarter credits/3.35 semester credits)

Environmental Field Survey (5 quarter credits/3.35 semester credits)

Wildlands Environment and Culture (5 quarter credits/3.35 semester credits)

Students will be evaluated on the basis of: 1) examinations; 2) extent and quality of fieldwork and participation in group field activities; 3) journals activities, and 4) the design, implementation, and written report to the group of an independent project.

Team members are expected to conduct themselves maturely and responsibly. Wildlands Studies reserves the right to require any student to withdraw from the program if their conduct is detrimental to or incompatible with any course participants' interests, safety, or welfare. We ask all students to read the Student Program Manual before joining the program on-site.

Team logistics

Participants will fly to Tahiti and meet at the Papeete Airport. At the end of the program, you can decide whether you want to fly home on the scheduled date or remain in French Polynesia to travel on your own.

All reasonable efforts will be made to follow the activities outlined above. However, please understand those travel arrangements can remain tentative on our program until the traveling actually takes place. Weather conditions, road closures, and political and bureaucratic considerations may affect our plans. Wildlands Studies has put together an innovative, unique program in French Polynesia, and team members need to be flexible, patient, and prepared to adapt to unexpected situations. Being flexible also allows us to take advantage of unique opportunities that inadvertently arise during our journeys, often producing some of the program’s most memorable moments.

Accommodations

Occasional camping, private home rental and possible research station stay.

FOOD

Food is handled differently on each of our programs. Participants on this program will be responsible for purchasing and cooking approximately two-thirds of their meals.  The remaining meals will be provided by Wildlands Studies as group meals. Participants will also be responsible for purchasing snacks. Detailed information about food management will be provided in the Logistics Packet. If you have dietary questions or concerns, please call our office.

Official Documents/Visa

You will need a current passport that does not expire until three months after the end of the program, has at least two leaflets with free space and was delivered less than 10 years ago. No visa is necessary if your stay does not exceed 3 months.

Language

This program is taught in English. French is the official language of French Polynesia and a large part of the population can also speak Tahitian, a Polynesian language close to Hawaiian.

Pre-Program Logistics Packet

Detailed information regarding travel and visa information, equipment requirements, food costs, meeting plans, group expenses payment, medical and vaccination recommendations, and academic preparations will be sent to all team members in a logistics letter emailed about 8-10 weeks before the program commences.