Forest Research Institute of Papua New Guinea (PNGFRI)
PNGFRI is the Regional Focal Point Organisation for the Pacific
In this project, Forest Research Institute (PNGFRI) - Papua New Guinea is the
identified as the Regional Focal Point Organisation (RFPO) for the Pacific
region. PNGFRI is the scientifis research arms of the Papua New Guinea Research
Authority (PNGFA) located some 30 km from the city of Lae with the main to
provide forest related research services based on collaboration with users in
Government, industry and community and with other research providers for the
sustainable use of forest resources in Papua New Guinea.
Since the site is only about a 40 to 45 minutes from Lae where PNGFRI is,
many of the researchers still have access to the facilities at FRI (soil
laboratory, wood identification laboratory, PNG National Herbarium with over
400,000 specimens, Botanical Gardens with many live plant collections, National
Insect Collections…). A reasonable reliable email and internet connection is
available although continuous black outs often affect connections but a stand by
generator has been put in place and now provides back up electricity.
Research Station: Kamiali Wildlife Management Area
The Kamiali Wildlife Management Area (KWMA) is located in the Salamaua
District of the Morobe Province, at latitude 07ş 23´ 24 S and longitudes 147°
09´ 39 E, about 80 km in a south-southeasterly direction along the coast from
the City of Lae. It can be reached in about 2.5-3 hours by boat from Lae. The
KWMA lies mostly within Morobe’s lowland and premontane climatic zones mean
annual rainfall 3,000–4,000 mm. The wettest months generally occur between
January–April, when prevailing winds are north-westerly, and the driest in
May–August when the south-easterly trade winds prevail. By the early and
mid-1990s, several foreign-owned logging companies were intensifying their
activities in the coastal forests of PNG, including this region. Much
destruction took place and many communities were environmentally traumatized by
the loss of their forests. Lababia was one of the few communities in this region
who chose not to allow large-scale logging in their forests. Setting up the KWMA
instead of selling the forest to loggers has been a wise decision by the local
people, and their lifestyle has benefited considerably. Furthermore, the KWMA is
now the only significant primary-growth habitat in this region. The KWMA,
established in 1995, is a linked land-sea conservation zone that consists of
47,000 hectares (29,285 ha is terrestrial) of a range of natural habitats
including coastal, mangroves, freshwater wetlands and mixed open rainforest.
Much of New Guinea’s diversity has been shaped by a complex and dynamic
geological past. The KWMA’s unusual geology has led to its recognition as a
separate physiographic province, extending from the Kamiali coastline to the
craggy summits of the Owen Stanley Range. However, the offshore islands are part
of a different (non-serpentine) geological series reaching southwards to the
Waria River. There is a conspicuous absence of floristic data such that the
species composition and vegetation structure of these communities remains poorly
known. Typical of other ultrabasic terrains in Papua New Guinea, the KWMA is
composed of massive ridges with uniform slopes and unstable soils. The
topographic instability of the study area is such that the hill habitat is
unsuitable for agriculture because of erosion hazards and the general
infertility. In contrast, the flood plains of the major streams (Bitoi, Tabali,
Arawiri, and Saia) have deep deposits of fertile organic alluvium in which
nearly all the Kamiali food gardens are concentrated. The people of Lababia are
swidden horticulturists and fishers who only use about 5% of their total land
area.
The KWMA lowland flora has a preponderance of small-leaved species, dominated
by Commersonia bartramia, Decaspermum bracteatum, Dicranopteris linearis,
Myrtella beccarii, Schuurmansia henningsii, and Timonius paiawensis. Many plant
families are present in low species numbers. The representation by ferns and
their allies is also poor in comparison to other substrates; however, with
Lindsaea obtusa is the most common fern. The Euphorbiaceae, Myrtaceae, and
Rubiaceae are exceptionally common. Other families represented by large numbers
of individuals include Burseraceae, Clusiaceae, Cyperaceae, Meliaceae,
Myristicaceae, Myrsinaceae, and Pandanaceae. Anisoptera thurifera subsp.
polyandra, Hopea glabrifolia, Myristica chrysophylla, Syzygium furfuraceum, and
Tristaniopsis macrosperma are abundant in tall-growth canopy. Gymnostoma papuana
(exposed ridges and riverbanks) and Stenocarpus moorei (streambanks and
landslips) often form locally dominant stands in repetitively disturbed
habitats. The subcanopy and middle layers in hill forest below 500 m are
dominated particularly by Brackenridgea forbesii, Canarium spp., Garcinia spp.,
Gordonia papuana, Gymnacranthera farquhariana var. zippeliana, Haplolobus
floribundus, Polyosma cf. forbesii, and Syzygium effusum. The coastal vegetation
also includes scattered seagrass shallows (Enhalus acoroides);
Bruguiera-Rhizophora dominated mangroves, and tidal estuarine forest.
The Kamiali Guest House is at sea-level within the Kamiali Wildlife
Management Area. It is built in local style with bush materials, and run by the
Lababia village community. Dormitory-style accommodation is available in
bunkhouses and in a communal loft area. There is a meeting room and work area.
The guest house uses both solar and generator power to provide lighting. There
is a HF radio link to the centre's office in Lae. Meals are prepared at the
guest house by trained villagers who use a combination of traditional and modern
methods of cooking. Much of the food served at the guest house is local produce
including seafood, seasonal fruits and garden vegetables.
A laboratory and accommodation facility is available in the mountains above
Lababia, at about 550 m elevation. The surrounding forests are excellent; rich
in frogs, lizards and snakes, and presumably floristically rich as well. A
permanent study plot has been established nearby. The site is on ultrabasic
soils with nearby areas with basaltic soil.
Full research facilities are available at the Papua New Guinea Forest
Research Institute in Lae. The facilities include soil laboratory, wood
identification laboratory, Papua New Guinea National Herbarium (LAE) with over
400,000 specimens, Botanical Gardens with many live plant collections, and the
Papua New Guinea National Insect Collections. A reasonably reliable email and
internet connection is available, with an emergency electric-power generator
available to maintain the supply of electricity. The City of Lae provides a full
range of accommodation, other facilities and services.
Contact persons:
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