The School for Field Studies

The School for Field Studies (SFS) is the USA's oldest and largest undergraduate environmental study abroad program. [http://www.petersons.com/stdyabrd/select/f1311250.asp] Through its network of field stations, SFS has been teaching students how to address critical environmental problems and providing solutions to local stakeholders. The School for Field Studies is accredited by Boston University and works closely with many colleges throughout the country.

History:

The School for Field Studies was founded on October 23, 1980 by "a group of visionaries (seeking) to create an educational institution that addressed the need for sustainable stewardship of the world's natural resources." [http://www.fieldstudies.org] In the years that followed, SFS began to extend its program offerings and in 1985, it began to offer both semester and summer courses.

Around this time, The School for Field Studies began to create localized center sites in a small number of countries in an effort to create a shared sense of responsibility to the environmental problems experience by the locals.

Currently, The School for Field Studies has sites in Australia, Costa Rica, Kenya, Mexico, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. SFS continues to work closely with these communities to research problems and develop solutions.

Programs:

The School for Field Studies offers programs in various countries. Each location deals with a different and specific environmental problem. All programs are accredited by Boston University and students participating in them can earn college level credits for their work.

The School for Field Studies attracts students through high quality false advertising and bending of the truth.

"Australia:" Two different programs are offered in Australia; "Tropical Rainforest Studies", which is offered during the spring and fall semesters, and T"ropical Rainforest Management Studies", which is offered during the summer months. Students participating in this programs work to assist local stakeholders and landowners address rainforest depletion and fragmentation.

"Costa Rica:"

In the fall and spring semesters, SFS students in Costa Rica can take "Sustainable Development Studies". During the summer sessions, "Sustaining Tropical Ecosystems: Biodiversity, Conservation, and Development" is offered. These programs deal with the effects of globalization and sustainability issues such as trash management and overpopulation.

"Kenya:"

The School for Field Studies’ Kenya site offers programs in "Wildlife Management Studies" during the spring and fall, and "Community Wildlife Management", and "Field Study in Public and Environmental Health" during the summer. The programs dealing with wildlife management examine the issues surrounding the shared use of land and resources between migrating herds of animals and the local Maasai people.

The course in public and environmental health is run in affiliation with Boston University [http://sph.bu.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=483&Itemid=585] .On this program, SFS students work closely with the Maasai community to identify and assist with various health issues, and work to promote more sanitary conditions.

"Mexico"

The SFS Mexico center offers programs dealing with marine ecosystems. During the spring and fall semesters students can take "Conserving Marine Mammals and Coastal Ecosystems". During the summer sessions "Conservation of Coastal Diversity and Threatened Marine Turtles in Bahia Magdalena" is offered. In these programs, students develop partnerships with the local community and government officials to create a conservation and management plan for sea turtles.

"Turks and Caicos Islands"

During the spring and fall semesters at the Turks and Caicos Islands, The School for Field Studies offers "Marine Resource Management Studies". During the summer, "Marine Protected Areas: Management Techniques and Policies" is offered. Students participating in these programs learn how to identify marine species and ecosystems. They also work to balance the economic needs of the local fishing community and analyze the costs and benefits of potential new fisheries.

Research:

The research that The School for Field Studies performs is often published in scientific journals. Below is a list of publications that have published their findings.

"Australia:"
*Boxall, G.A., J.J. Sandberg, and F.J. Kroon. 2002. Population structure, movement and habitat preferences of the purple-spotted gudgeon, Mogurnda adspersa. Marine and Freshwater Research 53:909-917.

*Craig, M.D., A.N.D. Freeman, and L.S. Seabrook. Does improving the accuracy of soil mapping by increasing sampling intensity assist with the identification of pre-European vegetation communities? Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland.

*Cummings, J. 2006. Evaluating vascular epiphyte abundance and distribution patterns in critically endangered rainforest. Australasian Plant Conservation 14: 14-16.

*Cummings, J., M. Martin, and A. Rogers. 2006. Quantifying the abundance of four large epiphytic fern species in remnant complex notophyll vine forest on the Atherton Tableland, north Queensland, Australia. Cunninghamia 9: 521-527.

*Cummings, J., N. Reid, I. Davies, and C. Grant. 2005. Adaptive restoration of sand mined areas for biological conservation. Journal of Applied Ecology 42:160-170.

*Cummings, J., A.N.D. Freeman, and A.B. Freeman. 2005. Report on weed and fauna surveys, Russell Island September 2005. A report to the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, The School for Field Studies, Yungaburra.

*Cummings, J. 2005. Coffee bush, cant toads, and romance on Russell Island. Mission Beach Bulletin 116, Cassowary and Coastal Conservation Committee, Mission Beach.

*Cummings, J., A. Freeman, and T. Curran. 2005. Jungle Farms Planting. TREAT Newsletter October – December 2005.

*Florentine, S.K. and M.E. Westbrooke. 2004. Evaluation of alternative approaches to rainforest restoration on abandoned pasturelands in tropical North Queensland, Australia. Land Degradation and Development 15:1-13.

*Florentine, S.K., M. Craig, and M.E. Westbrooke. 2003. Flowering, fruiting, germination and seed dispersal of the newly emerging weed Solanum mauritianum Scop. (Solanaceae) in the wet tropics of north Queensland. Plant Protection Quarterly 18:116-120.

*Florentine, S.K. and M.E. Westbrooke. 2003. Allelopathic potential of the newly emerging weed Solanum mauritianum Scop. (Solanaceae) in the wet tropics of north-east Queensland. Plant Protection Quarterly 18:23-25.

*Freeman, A. 2004. Constraints to community groups monitoring plants and animals in rainforest revegetation sites on the Atherton Tablelands of far north Queensland. Ecological Management and Restoration 5:199-204.

*Freeman, A. 2003. The distribution of Beach Stone-curlews and their response to disturbance on far north Queensland's Wet Tropical Coast. Emu 103:369-372.

*Freeman, A.N.D. and L.S. Seabrook. 2006. Increase in Riparian Vegetation along Peterson Creek, North Queensland 1938-2004. Ecological Management & Restoration 7: 63-65.

*Garnett, S.T., J.R. Clarkson, A. Felton, G.N. Harrington, A.N.D Freeman. 2005. Habitat and diet of the star finch (Neochmia ruficauda clarescens) in the early wet season at Princess Charlotte Bay, Cape York Peninsula, Australia. Emu 105: 81-85.

*Rasiah, V., S.K. Florentine, B.L. Williams, and M.E. Westbrooke. 2004. The impact of deforestation and pasture abandonment on soil properties in the wet tropics of Australia. Geoderma 120:35-45.

*Vinson, M.F. and A.N.D. Freeman. 2006. Tooth-billed bowerbirds establish a lek in Acacia regrowth forest Sunbird 36

*Waugh, S.M., P.F. Doherty, A.N.D. Freeman, L. Adams, G.C. Woods, J.A. Bartle, and G.K. Hedley. 2006. Demography of Westland Petrels (Procellaria westlandica), 1995–2003. Emu: 106: 219 – 226.

"Costa Rica"

*Aguirre, J. 2006. Estado de las Relaciones del Parque Nacional Monumento Arquelogico Guayabo con las Comunidades de Santa Cruz de Turrialba y Guayabo Costa Rica. PASOS. Revista de Turismo t Patrimonio Cultural. Vol 4. No 1. paginas 69-83. ( www.pasosonline.org.)

*Aguirre, J. 2006. Resource allocation, visitors' satisfaction, and management of national parks in Costa Rica, Honduras, and Nicaragua. RIAT (Interamerican Journal of Environment and Tourism), Volume 2, Number 2, 16-31.

*Aguirre, Juan A. 2006. Estado de las Relaciones del Parque Nacional Monumento Arquelogico Guayabo con las Comunidades de Santa Cruz de Turrialba y Guayabo Costa Rica. PASOS. Revista de Turismo y Patrimonio Cultural. Vol 4. No 1. paginas 69-83. (www.pasosonline.org.)

*Aguirre, Juan A. 2006. Linking National Parks with its gateway communities for Tourism Development in Central America:Nindiri, Nicaragu, Bagazit, Costa Rica y Portobelo, Panama. PASOS. Revista de Turismo y Patrimonio Cultural. Vol 4. No 3. paginas 351-371. (www.pasosonline.org.)

*Aguirre, J. 2004. People, economic improvement and participation: The critical dimensions in community protected area relations. in 2004 SEA Meeting, AERE session, New Orleans, LA.Aguirre, J. 2004. El Castillo/Volcan Arenal National Park: A 21th Century Real Life Case in Costa Rica.

*Alvarez, S. and G. Avalos. 2006. Light interception efficiency of the understory palm Calyptrogyne ghiesbreghtiana under deep shade conditions. Ecotropica.

*Avalos, G. 2007. Book comment for the journal Ecotropica: Kapelle, M. & S. P. Horn. 2005. Páramos de Costa Rica. Editorial INBIO, Santo Domingo, Heredia, Costa Rica. 767 pp.

*Avalos, G. 2007. Book comment for the journal Revista de Biologia Tropical: Kapelle, M. & S. P. Horn. 2005. Páramos de Costa Rica. Editorial INBIO, Santo Domingo, Heredia, Costa Rica. 767 pp.

*Avalos, G. 2006. Changes in size preference of illegally extracted heart of palm from Euterpe precatoria (Arecaceae) in Braulio Carrillo National Park, Costa Rica. Economic Botany.

*Avalos, G. 2005. Banded-tailed pigeon (Columba fasciata) at low elevations in Braulio Carrillo National Park, Costa Rica. Ornitologia Neotropical 16:1-2.

*Avalos, G. 2004. Production of second set of stilt roots in iriartoid palms: A solution to the puzzle. Palms 48:83-85.

*Avalos, G., D. Salazar, and A.L. Araya. 2005. Stilt root structure in the Neotropical palms Iriartea deltoidea and Socratea exorrhiza. Biotropica 37:44-53.

*Avalos, G., D. Salazar, and A.L. Araya. 2005. Slope and palm size as determinants of the structure of stilt roots in the neotropical palms Iriartea deltoidea and Socratea exorrhiza. Biotropica.

*Avalos, G., K. Hoell, J. Gardner, S. Anderson and C. Lee. 2006. Impact of the invasive species Syzigium jambos (Myrtaceae, Rose Apple) on patterns of understory seedling abundance in a Tropical Premontane Forest, Costa Rica. Revista de Biología Tropical. THIS PAPER WAS PUBLISHED ALONG WITH FORMER SFS STUDENTS.

*Avalos, G., Mulkey, S. S. 2005. Photochemical efficiency of adult and young leaves in the neotropical understory shrub Psychotria limonensis (Rubiaceae) in response to changes in the light environment. Revista de Biología Tropical 52.

*Avalos, G. and R. Schneider. 2006. Quantification of Ramet Production in Euterpe precatoria (Arecaceae) and its Implications for Sustainable Management Submitted to Revista de Biología Tropical.

*Avalos, G., S.S. Mulkey, K. Kitajima, and S.J. Wright. 2007. Canopy colonization strategies of two liana species in a tropical dry forest. Biotropica vol. 39.

*Chaves, O. and G. Avalos. 2006. Do seasonal changes in light availability influence the inverse leafing phenology of the neotropical dry forest understory shrub Bonellia nervosa? Revista de Biologia Tropical.

*Chaves, O. and G. Avalos. 2006. Is the inverse leafing phenology of the dry forest understory shrub Jacquinia nervosa (Theophrastaceae) a strategy to escape herbivory? Revista de Biología Tropical Tropical.

*Gagnon, C et S. Gagnon. 2006 L'écotourisme entre l'arbre et l'écorce: de la préservation au développement durable viable des territoires. Écotourisme, parcs et populations locales au Costa Rica: le cas des réserves naturelles privées de Monteverde et de Santa Elena et des communautés voisines. Juan Antonio Aguirre Environmental and Recreation Economist, The School for Field Studies-Center for Sustainable Development, Atenas, Costa Rica by the University of Quebec Press under the auspices of CRDT Chicoutime Campus of the UQAC.

*Hedstrom, I. 2003. Ecología, economía y etica del desarrollo sostenible en America Latina. in E. Gudynas, editor.

*Hedstrom, I. 2003. Wild talamanca (Talamanca indómita). Chronicle-Guide to Barbilla National Park (Relato-Guía del Parque Nacional Barbilla). Swedish Government, SIDA.

*Hedström, I. et al. 2004. Orchid bees as bio-indicators for organic coffee farms in Costa Rica: Does farm size affect their abundance?

*Hedstrom, I. and G. Sahlén. 2003. An extended description of the larva of Megaloprepus caerulatus from Costa Rica. International Journal of Odonatology 6:1-9.

*Sahlén, G. and Hedström, I. 2004. Description of the Mecistogaster linearis larva and their life zone preferences. International Journal of Odonatology.

"Kenya"

*Kioko, J., M.M. Okello, and P. Muruthi. 2006. Elephant numbers and distribution in the Tsavo – Amboseli Ecosytem, South – Western Kenya. Pachyderm 40: 61 – 68

*Kioko, J., M.M. Okello, and P. Muruthi. Elephant (Loxodonta africana africana, Blumenbach) numbers and distribution in the Tsavo-Amboseli Ecosystem, South Western Kenya. Pachyderm.

*Kiringe, J.W. 2006. A survey on the use of ethno-medicinal health remedies among the Maasai of Southern Kajiado District, Kenya Ethnobotany Research and Applications.

*Kiringe, J.W. 2006. A survey of traditional health remedies used by the Maasai of Southern Kajiado District, Kenya. Ethnobotany Research and Applications 4:061-073

*Kiringe, J.W. 2005. Ecological and anthropological threats to ethno-medicinal plant resources and their utilization in Maasai communal ranches in the Amboseli region of Kenya. Ethnobotany Research and Applications 3: 231-241.

*Kiringe, J.W. and Okello, M.M. 2005. Use and availability of tree and shrub resources on Maasai communal rangelands near Amboseli, Kenya. African Journal of Range and Forage Science 22:37-46.

*Kiringe, J.W. and Okello, M.M. 2005. Opinions of Area Managers on relative threat severity to Wildlife Protected Areas of Kenya. Ecology and Society.

*Okello, M.M., 2007. The Relative Importance of Large Mammal Species for Tourism in Amboseli National Park, Kenya Tourism Management.

*Okello, M.M. 2005. An assessment of the large mammal component of the proposed wildlife sanctuary site in Maasi Kuku Group Ranch near Amboseli, Kenya. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 35:63-76.

*Okello, M.M. 2005. Land use changes and human-wildlife conflicts in the Amboseli Area, Kenya. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 10:19-28.

*Okello, M.M. 2005. A Survey of Tourist Expectations and Economic Potential for a Proposed Wildlife Sanctuary in a Maasai Group Ranch near Amboseli, Kenya. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Volume 14 number 2.

*Okello, M.M. 2005. Community Perspectives on Land Use Changes and Human - Wildlife Conflicts in Maasai Amboseli Wildlife Dispersal Area, Kenya. Human Dimensions, Volume 10, Number 1.

*Okello, M.M., B.E.L. Wishitemi, and B. Lagat. 2005. Tourism Potential and achievement of Protected Areas in Kenya: Criteria and Prioritization. Tourism Analysis, Volume 10 Number 2.

*Okello, M.M., J.W. Kiringe, S.K. Seno, and J.M. Kioko. 2005. The Dilemma of Balancing Conservation and Strong Tourism Interests in a Small National Park: The Case Of Amboseli, Kenya.” Journal of East Africa Natural Resource Management (Jeanarm).

*Okello, M.M., J.W. Kiringe, and S.K. Seno. 2005. Wildlife Utilization and Other User Rights in Kenya: Complementarily, Rights and Responsibilities. Journal of East Africa Natural Resource Management (Jeanarm).

*Okello, M.M., and J.W. Kiringe. 2004. Threats to biodiversity and their implications in protected and adjacent dispersal areas of Kenya. Journal for Sustainable Tourism 12(1):55-69.

*Okello, M.M., S.K. Seno, and B.E.L. Wishitemi. 2003. Maasai community wildlife sanctuaries in Tsavo-Amboseli ecosystem, Kenya: Management partnerships and their conditions for success. Parks 13(1):17-15. IUCN Gland, Switzerland.

*Okello, M.M., B.E.L. Wishitemi, and F. Muhoro. 2002. Forage intake rates and foraging efficiency of free ranging zebra and impala. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 32:93-100.

*Okello, M.M., B.E.L. Wishitemi, and A.M. Mwinzi. 2001. Relative importance of conservation areas in Kenya based on diverse tourist attractions. The Journal of Tourism Studies 12(1):39-49.

*Tome, S. 2007. Effects of demographic changes on natural resource utilization and availability within the southern rangelands of Kenya.

*Tome, S. 2006. Resilience and vulnerability of socio-ecological systems: An assessment of factors responsible for change in land use within the Amboseli rangelands.

*Tome, S. and M.M. Okello. 2006. The Chyulu Hills: Raison d'être and Consequences of Contested Proprietorship of an Idyllic Oasis. Book Chapter

*Tome, S. 2003. Envisioning Sustainable Development: Renewable Energy in Kenya and the Impact of International Conventions, A report on behalf of the Civil Society's preparation for World Summit on Sustainable Development.

*Wato, Y. A., G.M. Wahungu, and M.M. Okello. Predictors of Animal Snares in Tsavo, Kenya. Biological Conservation.

*Wishitemi, B.E.L. and M.M. Okello. 2003. Application of the protected landscape model in southern Kenya. Parks 13(2):21-29. IUCN Gland, Switzerland.

*Wishitemi, B.E.L., M.M. Okello, and J.O. Odiara. Development Of Sustainable Community Based Tourism At Saiwa Swamp National Park, Kenya. The African Journal of Business & Economics.

"Mexico"

*De Alba, C. 2001. The production of canned tuna by the Mexican processing plants, during the years 1998 to 2000. Pages 13-15 in El Vigía.

*Farrell, T. A., and F. Ollervides. 2005. The School for Field Studies Center for Coastal Studies: a case study of sustainable education in Mexico. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education 6:122-133.

*Guerrero-Ruiz, M., H. Pérez-Cortés M., Z. Salinas, and J. Urbán R. 2006. First Mass Stranding of Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Aquatic Mammals 2006, 32(3), 265-272.

*Koch, V. L.B. Brooks, W.J. Nichols. 2007. Population ecology of the green/black turtle (Chelonia mydas) in Bahia Magdalena, Mexico. Journal of Marine Biology.

*Koch, V., M. Suastegui, J.M. Sinsel, M. Robles, and D. Dunn. 2005. Lions paw scallop (Nodipecten subnodosus, Sowerby 1835) aquaculture in Bahia Magdalena, Mexico: effects on population density and season on juvenile growth and mortality. Aquaculture Research 36:505-512.

*Koch, V., W.J. Nichols, H. Peckham, and V. de la Toba. 2006. Estimates of sea turtle mortality from poaching and bycatch in Bahía Magdalena, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Biological Conservation 128(3): 327– 334.

*Pérez-Cortés M., H., C.A. Barrera, and F. Ollervides, 2006. First record of a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) mother and calf inside Bahía Magdalena, Baja California Sur, Mexico. The Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals – LAJAM.

*Schweers, T., M. Wolff, and V. Koch. Population dynamics of the chocolate clam Megapitaria squalida (Bivalvia: Veneridae) at Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Revista de Biología Tropical.

*Taylor, M., V. Koch, M. Wolff, and F. Sinsel. 2006. Evaluation of different shallow water culture methods for the scallop Nodipecten subnodosus using biologic and economic modeling. Aquaculture.

"Turks and Caicos Islands"

*Béné, C., and A. Tewfik. 2001. Fishing effort allocation and fishermen's decision-making process in a multi-species small-scale fishery: Analysis of the conch and lobster fishery in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Human Ecology 29:157-186.

*Béné, C., and A. Tewfik. 2003. Biological evaluation of Marine Protected Area: evidence of crowding effect on a protected population of Queen conch in the Caribbean. Marine Ecology 24:45-58.

*Bos, A.R., S. Clark, and S. Gore. 2003. Preliminary habitat description of juvenile Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) in South Caicos, Turks & Caicos Islands. Proceedings of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute 54:230-240.

*Claydon, J.A.B. 2006. Spawning aggregations of yellow fin mojarras. Society for Conservation of Reef Fish Aggregations, Newsletter 9: 4-6

*Danylchuk, A.J. 2002. Resource conservation and education: Learning through experience. in Environmental Chit-Chat, Turks and Caicos National Parks/Turks and Caicos National Trust.

*Fisher, R., and S.K. Wilson. 2004. Maximum sustainable swimming speeds of nine species of late stage larval reef fishes. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 312:171-186.

*Lockhart, K., G. Magnusson, and W. Clerveaux. 2004. Consumption of local conch by residents of TCI. Proceedings of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute.

*McClellan K., L. Aylesworth, C. Goyetche, and S. Newman. Comparison of fish abundances, coral coverage and diversities at dive moorings and control sites: a baseline study prior to an imminent increase in tourism activity on South Caicos, TCI.

*Newman, S., R. Handy, and S. Gruber. Spatio-temporal variations in mangrove and seagrass communities and their importance to prey of juvenile lemon sharks, Negaprion brevirostris. Bulletin of Marine Science.

*Pratchett, M.S., S.K. Wilson, M.I. Berumen, and M.I. McCormick. 2004. Sub-lethal impacts of coral bleaching on an obligate coarl feeding butterflyfish. Coral Reefs 23:352-356.

*Tewfik, A. and C. Béné. 2003. Effects of natural barriers on the spillover of a marine mollusk: Implications for fisheries reserves. Aquatic Conservation. Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 13:473-488.

*Tewfik, A. and C. Béné. 2000. Densities and age structure of fished versus protected populations of Queen conch (Strombus gigas) in the Turks & Caicos Islands. Proceedings of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute :60-79.

*Vo Anh-Thu, E., A. Dikou, and S. Newman. The Biological, Socioeconomic and Political aspects of Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) fisheries in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Fisheries Science.

*Wilson, D.T. 2005. Illegal fishing practices are steadily destroying the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) spiny lobster fishery. Free Press.

*Wilson, D.T. 2005. Feral animals and unregulated domestic pets: An issue requiring urgent attention. Baller Magazine

*Wilson, D.T., D. Vaughan, S.K. Wilson, C.N. Simon, K. Lockhart. A preliminary assessment of the efficacy of a chlorine bleach detection method for use in Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) fisheries. Proc 57th GCFI, St. Petersburg, FL.

*Wilson, D.T., D. Vaughan, S.K. Wilson, C.N. Simon, K. Lockhart. Bleach detection in the Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) fishery of the Turks and Caicos Islands, British West Indies. Fish Bull.

*Wilson, D.T., S.K. Wilson, D. Vaughan, K. Lockhart. 2004. A chemical detection test kit for the Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) fishery in the Turks and Caicos Islands, British West Indies. SFS-CMRS Technical Report Series, No.2, 23pp.

*Wilson, D.T., C.M. Mills. Maximizing The Benefits Of An In-Country Foreign Tertiary Education Provider: The School For Field Studies, Turks And Caicos Islands, B.W.I.

*Wilson, S.K., S. Street, and T. Sato. 2005. Discarded queen conch (Strombas gigas) shells as shelter sites by fish. Marine Biology 147:177-188.

*Wilson, S.K., D.T. Wilson, C. Lamont, M. Evans. 2006. Identifying individual Great Barracuda, Sphyraena barracuda using natural body marks. J Fish Biol.