Master student: Mari Meinita

Ellen Soldal

Mari Dyah Nur Meinita (26) from Indonesia came all the way to Norway to get a Master’s degree in Tropical Ecology and Management of Natural Resources. For her Master’s thesis she is studying the impact of human activities on biodiversity in mangrove ecosystems.

Master student Mari Dyah Nur Meinita

Mari’s field of study is marine ecology and she did her field work in her home country, Indonesia. Indonesian coastal areas are extensively covered by mangrove ecosystems, an estimated area of 2.93 million ha, which constitutes about 20 % of the total mangrove area of the world.

- The fact that the destruction rates of the Indonesian mangroves are among the highest of any tropical ecosystem induced med to conduct my research, Mari says.

She investigates the impact of human activities on the loss of biodiversity in mangrove ecosystems. Anthropogenic disturbances such as deforestation of mangroves lead to decrease in coverage, causing the disappearance of natural nursery grounds for macro benthos and other organisms.

- I hope that by conducting this study I can give a small contribution in the development of a sustainable management of mangrove ecosystems in Southeast Asia and particularly in Indonesia. When I finish my degree I will go home and continue my work. I hope that later I can obtain a higher degree in Marine Ecology.

What do you think about student life here at Ås?
- Student life at UMB and Ås is amazing! I have gained many friends from many different continents, countries and nationalities. Norway is such a beautiful country, with cold weather which is extremely different from my home country. I get experience of a lifetime here.


Updated: 02.05.07
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