BIRD OF PARADISE TO BE HIGHLIGHT OF PAPUA BIODIVERSITY CONFERENCE by Fardah

Jakarta, Aug 6, 2016 (Antara) - Birds of Paradise or locally called birds of 'Cenderawasih' are the pride of Indonesia, and particularly Papua, whose forest is home to these birds considered to be among the most beautiful in the world.

           Papua will promote these Birds of Paradise, which are members of the family Paradisaeidae of the order Passeriformes (Perching Birds), during the Second International Conference on Biodiversity, Eco-Tourism and Creative Economy (ICBE) to be held in the provincial capital of Jayapura, from September 7 to 10, 2016.   
    The theme of the conference will be "Biodiversity and Ecotourism, Papua Economic Solutions", while its sub theme will be "Utilize Natural Resources, Increase Livelihood, Protect the Golden Generation of Papua."
     Some 750 foreign and Indonesian scientists, NGO activists, academicians and officials are expected to attend the conference, according to Elia Loupatty of the Papua administration secretariat.

          The organizing committee has sent invitations, among other things, to the United States, Britain, Brazil, and Spain, in addition to Australia, Japan, China, South Korea and Papua New Guinea.   
   At least 13 foreign experts and eight from Indonesia are expected to address the conference.

        The conference's participants will be taken on a guided tour to the bird habitats in Depapre, and Nimbokrang Mt Cyclop in Jayapura District.

         During discussions, they are expected to talk about preservation and protection of these Birds of Paradise, as well as cassowaries, parrots, and cockatoos which are quite abundant on Papua Island.

        Besides Papua, these birds are found in tropical forests, including rainforest, swamps and moss forest on Torres Strait Islands, in Papua New Guinea (PNG), and eastern Australia, according to information on www.beautyofbirds.com.

         The members of this family are perhaps best known for the plumage of the males of most species, in particular highly elongated and elaborate feathers extending from the beak, wings or head.

        The male birds produce beautiful sounds, have pretty feathers and are good dancers when they are trying to attract the female of the species.

        Hunting these birds for their plumes for the millinery trade was extensive in the late 19th and early 20th century, but today they enjoy legal protection and hunting is only permitted at a sustainable level to fulfill the ceremonial needs of the local tribal population.

          The birds of Paradise are endangered due to poachers, while visitors seek dead and preserved ones as souvenirs, Chairman of the conference's organizing committee Noak Kapisa said recently.

         He had suggested to local officials that they stop giving preserved  birds  of Paradise as souvenirs to VIP visitors, and instead give them Papua¿s traditional noken bags made of certain plants, Kapisa said.

         Kapisa, who is head of the Papua Environmental Office, urged indigenous people of Papua to help protect Paradise birds and their habitats which could become promising eco-tourism destinations.    
    Papua's biodiversity encompasses half of Indonesia's biodiversity, particularly the endemic flora and fauna that are only found on this island.

         The island, which consists of West Papua and Papua Provinces, is home to some 250 tribes that retain ancient traditional cultures, and over 250 indigenous languages and dialects.

          Having the world's remaining virgin tropical rainforests with vast biological diversity, the island is also home to endemic fauna such as possums, wallabies, tree-kangaroos, and endangered Long-beaked Echidna. It also has the world's longest lizards and largest butterflies.

         Its biodiversity includes 15000 to 20000 plant species (55 percent endemic), 2000 species of orchids, 602 species of birds (52 percent endemic), and 125 species of mammals (58 percent endemic), in addition to 223 species of reptiles and amphibia (35 percent endemic), 25 species of freshwater fish and 1200 species of marine fish, as well as an estimated 150,000 species of insects, according to the 2013 data of Papua Ecology.

        Large parts of the equatorial glacier fields in the highlands remain largely unexplored. Protected areas within Papua province include the Lorentz National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Wasur National Park, a RAMSAR wetland of international importance.

         The scope of the conference activities will include a scientific seminar on the Potential Development on Biodiversity, Eco-tourism, and the Creative Economy; exhibitions of cultural and creative economy on biodiversity and eco-tourism of native Papuans in the five customary Regions of Papua; a cultural festival of native Papua that will feature local dances, songs, folklore, along with a field trip  to some cultural or historical locations, and places of recreation in the Humboldt Bay, Sentani Lake and Northern Beach area.

           Papua will also highlight its eco-tourism potential and the local people's economic development during the gathering.***3***
(f001/INE/o001) 06-08-2016 11:39:58