Nature Conservation 3/2012 — 17. 10. 2012 — International Nature Conservation — Print article in pdf
Krása A.: Nature Conservation in Indonesian Papua: the Mamberano River Basin
– povodí řeky Mamberamo
The article presents nature and threats to it in the Mamberamo region, located in the northern part of Indonesian Papua. The Mamberano River and its tributaries is a natural axis of the area covering the territory comparable with a half of the Czech Republi’s one.
It also includes a mountain range in its central part. The area visited is covered by a mosaic of various habitats, from reed beds and gallery forest to highly structured, species-rich humid forest growths. The basin is inhabited by a huge range of animals preferring not only water bodies, but also growths located quite far from waters. Both birds and invertebrates, but also crocodiles are common there. The area has been only sparsely populated by humans. Due to remote locations and limited tools, human pressures have been relatively low and at present definitely sustainable. The most important threat to the whole area is gold and other metal mining which could very easily destroy the region’s unique nature.