Beauty and Biodiversity In Papua New Guinea
Few places on Earth can equal the beauty and variety found in Papua New Guinea. Located on the largest and highest tropical island on the globe. Papua New Guinea is home to one of the world’s largest tracts of intact rain forest. The island’s coast is home to some of the most pristine mangrove swamps to be seen anywhere. These lush tropical rain forests offer an unparalleled opportunity to see nature at its most diverse and unique, and to experience wildlife that is not found in any other place on Earth.
One of the best ways to explore Papua New Guineas rich natural heritage is to tour Lorentz National Park. This enormous national park is a World Heritage Site, so honored because of its vast size and the amazing numbers of rare and endangered animals and plants it protects. Not only is Lorentz National Park the largest natural park in Southeast Asia, it is the only protected area in the world to incorporate a continuous, intact transect from snowcap to tropical marine environment, including extensive lowland wetlands. Birdlife International, a group dedicated to the study and protection of birds, calls Lorentz National Park “probably the single most important reserve in New Guinea.”
The geography of Lorentz National Park is also unique because the island of New Guinea sits at the border of two tectonic plates. This means that Lorentz National Park is experiencing both the growth of mountain ranges due to volcanic activity, as well as erosion of those same mountains by glacier. Truly, Lorentz National Park is a one of a kind experience you cannot afford to miss.
Lorentz National Park is enormous, an astonishing 2.35 million hectares in size. Apart from encompassing habitats from high altitude mountains to coastal mangrove swamps and wetlands, the park is also home to one of the best preserved sites of fossils. These fossils are even now enlightening scientists about how life developed and changed on Papua New Guinea. The park is also home to several ethnic groups, including the Asmat, Amungme, Dani, Sempan, and Nduga. Each ethnic group has a distinct and unique culture, and efforts to conserve wildlife within the park are created with the needs of these groups in mind. While there are no staff or park rangers assigned to Lorentz National Park, local communities and interested citizens help to maintain and monitor the park.
Unlike many threatened wild areas in the world, Lorentz National Park is currently in excellent shape. Threats from logging and mining have been quite effectively managed by the government of Papua New Guinea, and neither activity threatens the park at this time. While drilling and production of oil is ongoing to the northeast of the park, currently there are no exploration efforts going on inside the park itself.
The greatest threat to Lorentz National Park is the trade in illegally poached wildlife, and visitors should keep in mind that poachers do travel and operate in the park. Hiring a guide and traveling in groups is the best way to see this natural treasure in safety, ensuring a vacation memory you will never forget.
