The Orangutan Tropical Peatland Research Project works to protect one of the most important areas of tropical rainforest in Borneo - the Sabangau Forest, part of Borneo's largest remaining area of tropical lowland forest. 

OuTrop monitors the distribution, population status, behaviour and ecology of the forest's flagship ape species (the orangutan and the Bornean gibbon). We carry out biodiversity and forestry research, and work with local partners to implement conservation solutions.   A limited number of volunteer places are available each year to participate in the research programmes of the Forest Dynamics and Ecological Monitoring Teams. This would particularly suit recent graduates or undergraduates wishing to gain fieldwork experience in a tropical forest environment. A willingness to work long hours in the field, a good level of fitness, and basic biological/ecological knowledge is advantageous. There are also several opportunities for students to undertake research for part of their undergraduate honours project or post graduate masters thesis.

Typically your volunteer work will involve:

1) Monitoring habitat condition and status of biodiversity. For this we survey orangutans by counting their nests, gibbons by triangulating their morning calls and carry out line transect surveys of other primate species. We carry out surveys on indicator species such as butterflies, moths and amphibiansd. We measure trees in permanent habitat plots to monitor changes in forest structure at each of our monitoring stations.

2) Assessing long-term regeneration, succession and productivity processes in forest subject to different disturbances including selective logging, fire, natural gaps and canal construction. We have a large number of plots in which we measure elements of tree size, health and productivity and seedling and sapling density, growth and survival.

3) Studies of orangutan, gibbon and red langur behavioural ecology. We follow habituated individuals of these species in order to better understand their behaviour, social interactions, food competition and ability to live in a disturbed forest. Although this does not form part of the volunteer programme, if the conditions are suitable we do offer the opportunity to spend a day or two following orangutans, gibbons and red langurs with our behaviour research team.