Official: Papua New Guinea last frontier for biodiversity

 PAPUA New Guinea is one of the last biodiversity frontiers in the world, an official says.

Fredrick Ohmana, Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) project coordinator on the CEPA/Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) project for biodiversity conservation, said PNG was home to over 18,894 plant species. “We believe some of the plants and animal species that are native and found in this country are only unique here,” Ohmana said.

“We have about 760 birds, 271 mammals, 227 reptiles, 266 frogs, 341 freshwater fish species, 600 different coral species and 3000 species of reef fish being described and recorded. 

“Some 400 species of birds have been found in Port Moresby and out the city, including the VarirataNational Park, Laloki and Sirinumu catchment area and the Pacific Adventist University.”

He said CEPA was partnering  JICA, Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority and the local Koiari people to conserve and protect the rich bird species as well as the entire biodiversity and at the same time harness the resource through ecotourism activities.

“Under this five-year project between CEPA and JICA, we are looking at biodiversity conservation starting at the Varirata National Park in Sogeri down to the Bootless Bay,” he said.

“This bird-watching is part of this five-year project on biodiversity conservation to promote the mandate of CEPA to ensure that PNG’s environment is managed in an environmentally sustainable manner.

“This would provide economic opportunities through eco-tourism for the local Koiari people to benefit.

“We have identified six possible sites to build bird watching.”