Fatuk Kuak hosi Timor Lorosa'e
Tropical lapiaz in Fatubessi karst massif, Maubisse province, Timor-Leste. Photo: Ana Sofia Reboleira
Sofia was in Timor-Leste (East-Timor) exploring caves and their biodiversity, with a team of Portuguese and Spanish speleologists.
During the stay in East-Timor's capital, Sofia gave an invited talk presenting this project and signed a cooperation protocol for cave studies between the Speleology Group of Aveiro University (NEUA, Portugal) and the National University of Timor Leste (UNTL).
We were kindly received by the Ambassador of Portugal, Manuel Gonçalves de Jesus, at the Embassy in Díli, where we have had the opportunity to discuss the importance of subterranean water resources for the development of Timor-Leste and about strategies for the protection of aquifers.
We were kindly received by the Ambassador of Portugal, Manuel Gonçalves de Jesus, at the Embassy in Díli, where we have had the opportunity to discuss the importance of subterranean water resources for the development of Timor-Leste and about strategies for the protection of aquifers.
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(left) Signing the cooperation protocol for cave studies in Timor, with the Dean of the National University of Timor. Photo: Geiza Marques d'Oliveira. (right) At the Embassy of Portugal in Timor-Leste with the with the Portuguese Ambassador in Díli. Photo: Cátia Santos.
We have explored several karst areas of the Island, included in the provinces of Maubisse, Baucau, Lautém and Viqueque. High temperature and high humidity induces serious limitations to the field work, inside and outside the caves, because this combination is in the limit of the human survival.
Caves prospection on the tropical forest in the Nino Konis Santana National Park. Photo: Ana Sofia Reboleira
Sofia pointing out a freshwater crocodile masked in the margin of Irasiquero River, the drainage of the huge Ira Lalaro polje.
Photo: Maria Eugénia Gomez.
Photo: Maria Eugénia Gomez.
Intense fieldwork in caves of Timor-Leste, during our expedition, revealed a surprisingly rich hidden biodiversity and many kilometres of previously unexplored caves were mapped.
Sofia providing scale for cave specimens found bellow Tutuala's forest in the Eastern part of the Island. Photo: Manuel Soares.
Strongly convicted that education is the fundamental basis of conservation, our project has also focus on implementing local Speleology. Therefore, we offered specific trainning to more than 20 future Timorese speleologists from the UNTL.
Cave mapping and 'single rope technique' training for Timorese speleologists of Juventude Hadomi Natureza in Fatubessi karst massif.
Photo: Ana Sofia Reboleira
Photo: Ana Sofia Reboleira
A strong part of the project includes outreach activities and giving several conferences in elementary schools on the importance of caves and their protection to the future Timorese generations.
Outreach activities at elementary school in remote areas of Timor-Leste. Photo: Ana Sofia Reboleira
We are deeply grateful to our Timorese friends from Juventude Hadomi Natureza, whom accompanied us throughout the country, to Universidade Nacional de Timor Lorosa'e for providing logistic support and funding for students, to Vodacabo that generously lent us a 4x4 vehicle during all expedition, to Fundação Oriente for kindly providing us accommodation and access to all facilities in Díli and all the support from the Portuguese Embassy in Timor-Leste.
Members of the expedition received the honor "salema" from the Dean of the National University of Timor (UNTL). Photo: Geiza Marques d'Oliveira
More information about the expedition "Fatuk Kuak Timor Lorosa'e 2016": http://timor.myspeleo.com
News about the expedition:
Espeleólogos portugueses (re)descobrem Timor: RTP
Espeleólogos da UA à descoberta do ‘lado de baixo’ de Timor-Leste: Universidade de Aveiro
News about the expedition:
Espeleólogos portugueses (re)descobrem Timor: RTP
Espeleólogos da UA à descoberta do ‘lado de baixo’ de Timor-Leste: Universidade de Aveiro
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