HOGAVE CONSERVATION AREA PROJECT PROFILE By

HOGAVE CONSERVATION AREA

PROJECT PROFILE

By: David T Kima Executive Director

PO Box 742, Goroka, EHP, PNG Ph: 675 1707 Cell: 675 71811337 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Executive Summary

This is a project initiated by the people themselves. It was officially initiated in 1987, though conservation practices have long being observed by the people for ages. There were other options including logging and the potential for mining was present but the people opted for conservation. Before any group seriously thought about the notion of conservation and environmental friendly development in PNG, this group really was ahead in taking the initiative to conserve its own tropical rain forest.

Several informal and formal meetings were conducted to have the area projected by the community as a conservation area. Much education was given to the people to understand the importance of having the area conserved and protected. Expert advice was received from various professional individuals and organisations that were involved with conservation of flora and fauna.

It took over 20 years for the Hogave people to care for this virgin forest and its varied wildlife. Finally their efforts have been realised by project partners such as the Institute of Biological Research of Papua New Guinea and Hans Wilsdorf Foundation in Geneva Switzerland.

The two primary objectives of this project have now being realised through these very important project partners; which is to formally conserve the area and improve living standards of the people. The scientific work to collect data and profile the biological value of Hogave and formalise the community conservation effort will be achieved and improve the general standard of living. Already eight village Research Assistants have been trained and are assigned to carry on the work of collecting data in the forest. People are now drinking clean and fresh water right at the door steps of their homes and have a micro hydro that provide electricity for the village and the Conservation Centre.

Hogave Conservation History of Project: Hogave Conservation initially got started in 1987 as a conservation area by the Hogave people themselves with resilient leadership and direction from David T Kima, Founding Director.

Part of the reason for initiating this project was steady increase in human population and their encroachment on the forest. There was a genuine threat of people polluting the rivers, creeks and springs which this forest provides and serves as a drinking water source for the people that live below the mountains and valleys. Also the population of the Hogave tribe was growing steadily and was posing a threat to the virgin forest when this growing population were cutting and clearing virgin forests, which where home to many wildlife, for gardening and building huts. Also the people were moving closer to the only main road that runs from Lufa station to Ubaigubi which also serves as a boundary to the forest and villages. There was also a threat of an un- identified mining company going through the area and identifying almost all the rivers and creeks as positively deposited with mineral resources. Potential for logging was present but people opted for conservation.

Project Location: Hogave and Mt. Michael are located in the Lufa district of the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. The distance from Goroka town to the project site is about 63km south. Mt. Michael is the highest mountain in Eastern Highlands with the altitude of about 3650 meters. The project area is to the west of Mt. Michael, approximately, latitude 6˚22’S: Longitude 145˚15’E., starting at an altitude of approx.2000m and ascending to aprox. 3200m.

Population & Project area: Hogave Village a sub tribe of the Gimi language speaking group consists of three clans that have access right and ownership to the south western part of Mt. Michael. The virgin forest area is commonly known as Seleta on the topographic map, but locally known as Hogave bush. Currently about 1000 people from Hogave will have access right to this forest. The immediate virgin forest area to be conserved as initiated by the people can at present be estimated at 20 square kilometres, though the total virgin forest area is well over 120square kilometres.

Objectives: The two Primary objectives for this project are:  Firstly, to conserve Flora and Fauna.  Secondly, to improve general living conditions of the village people.

How will Objectives be achieved: The first objective will be achieved by either declaring the area as a Wildlife Management Area,or a National Park and gazetted under appropriate government regulation. This has to be worked out with relevant government officials and NGO’s both national and international who are concerned with nature and conservation. Contacts and field visits have already been made with the department of nature and conservation officials who are very strongly in favour of declaring the area as a national park or conservation area.

However current arrangement with local tribal leaders taking ownership in declaring to conserve their forest has worked very well for almost 30 years. The Hogave people have kept to their communal pledge and resolve to look after their forest for future generations. 3

The second objective will be realized when relevant, development organizations, such as donor partners provide technical and financial assistance to the project.

Meetings and Resolution: The Hogave people therefore had several general meetings and resolved that there is already enough cleared land for making gardens and building huts on. It is therefore unnecessary for them to clear the new areas as they are destroying the environment unnecessarily. The people also resolved that mining would not be a good option even if there was enormous mineral deposit. The people instead opted for conservation.

Importance of Hogave & Mt. Michael

Most importantly the project will conserve the virgin forest and wildlife including birds of paradise and mammals as identified by the department of environment and conservation in their 1989 preliminary survey and data provided in the Conservation International and Institute of Biological survey report in 2009. The type of vegetation found has high potential for conservation as a source of major scientific research and tourist attraction. Also very important for Mt. Michael and the whole environment is that other tribes who have access rights to the whole virgin forest surrounding Mt. Michael will follow the example of Hogave tribe and desire conservation.

This project is extremely vital because adjacent to Mt. Michael is the Crater Mountains which has been positively identified by exploration firms as immensely deposited with minerals (and exploration activities have been intensified so far). It is only a matter of time before mining activity will take place at the Crater Mountains. People and organisations who are genuinely concerned with conservation need to act faster than to wait and complain when damage has been done, which seem to be the trend in many communities in Papua New Guinea.

The Total Area: Total virgin forest area is well over 200 square kilometers evolving around Mt. Michael and extending to the Crater Mountains which more than 50 tribes or villages have ownership rights. The Hogave tribe has ownership rights to about 20 square kilometers and they have conserved that part of the forest. Nature and conservation officials have advised that 20 square kilometers is an ideal size for a national park.

The following research information suggests an area full with many interesting bio-data that needs further scientific investigation and continued protection of the tropical virgin forest.

HOGAVE CONSERVATION AREA Lufa District EHP, PNG

Research & Scientific data on Hogave

Hogave Mini -RAP Survey Report

From the PNG Institute of Biological Research November 2009

General introduction It takes long to conduct standard field research while decision makers usually don’t wait that long to make decisions on biologically important areas of the world. Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) of Conservation International (CI) address this issue by quickly providing the necessary information and recommendation required for appropriate conservation to decision makers. The RAP typically takes 3-4 weeks and brings team of international tropical biologists into totally wild areas who conduct rapid surveys on the biodiversity of the area. The scientists collect and analyze the data on diversity of selected groups of animals, the quality of the forest and make recommendations to decision makers for conservation efforts.

RAP was first developed in Latin America to meet the critical need for quick identification of priority areas for conservation. As a result, RAP has helped at least six national parks to be gazetted in five countries in Latin America. In PNG, there is urgent need for biological research especially when there is ever expanding threat from resource extraction enterprises like logging, oil palm plantations, mining and oil activities and subsistence agriculture. However, PNG’s complex land tenure system makes it more difficult to gazette a national park. Therefore, conservation in PNG requires direct involvement of different stake holders which include landowners, conservation NGOs, government entities and conservation biologists working together to find best approach to conservation.

Conservation International’s Rapid Assessment Program (CI-RAP) is contracting the services and expertise of the PNG Institute of Biological Research (PNGIBR) to conduct up to three biological mini-RAP surveys around the vicinity of Goroka in the Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. The aim of these mini-RAPs is firstly to conduct biological surveys in existing or would be conservation areas and document flora and fauna and possibly discover new species. The information generated from these mini-RAPs would help different stakeholders such as landowners and EHP provincial government in the development and maintenance of existing or would be conservation initiatives.

This mini-RAP is the first of the three CI-Mini RAPs in Eastern Highlands Province (EHP). The mini-RAPs are part of major CI-RAPs that has already completed two of the three large RAPs in Papua New New Guinea. This mini-RAP was conducted at the Hogave Conservation Area (HCA), on the south west foothills of Mt. Michael in Lufa district (see details below under each taxon report) by staff of the PNGIBR with another scientist from New Guinea Binatang Research Centre (NGBR). Scientists from PNGIBR provide expertise on plants, mammals, ants and birds while herps (frogs, lizards and snakes) was done by Chris Dahl of NBRC. However, the herps (forgs, lizards and snakes) was postponed because Chris was not available at the time of the RAP. Members of A Rocha International which is providing funding for both the major and mini-RAPs were on site during the survey.

General site descriptionand methods Eastern Highlands Province is located in the central highlands of PNG and covers 11,000 km2. The Bismarck Range is on the north of the province reaching a peak of 3546m on Mt. Otto while Kratke Range is in the south reaching a peak of 3647m on Mt. Michael which is the highest peak in the province and the 5th highest peak in PNG. Mt. Michael is an isolated mountain peak, forested above 2100m and below that it largely grassland from gardening and human habitation. Eastern Highlands Province has the most extensive mid montane grassland as result of increase in population density. Vegetation at Mt. Michael change in composition with altitude, the general succession being secondary forest and grassland at the foothills to mid montane between 2100- 2600m, moss forest around 2700 and alpine grassland above that. Mid montane forest is dominated by Nothofagusgrandis, N. pullei and N. peryi. The trees in moss forest zone are stunted and the forest is poorly lit with thick layers of moss covering much of the ground, trunks and branches. Mist and cloud cover these zones for a large proportion of time and rainfall is obviously very high.

There is a general increase of rainfall westwards from Goroka towards Mt. Michael. Annual rainfall in Goroka is about 1920 mm, Lufa station about 2484 mm and Gouno mission Station about 3510 mm (Lufa is towards north and Gouno towards south of Hogave study site). Annual temperature for EHP varies only by 2 ºC and peaking at 23.7 ºC in November. Generally, the province used to have distinct wet and dry seasons in a year where evaporation exceeds precipitation. However, recently the weather pattern has become unpredictable.

Figure 1.Hogave survey site. Map is from Google Earth

Mt. Michael forested area covers well over 150 km2 consisting of 20 tribes who have ownership rights. The Hogave people of the Gimi speaking group have ownership rights to about 20 km2 of the mountain who are working to conserve their part of the forest. The Hogave Conservation Area or initiative was started in 1987 as a conservation area as a result of (1) pollution of drinking water sources for the communities living below the foothills of the forest (2), to stop local people cutting and clearing of forest that threaten wildlife (3), stop people settling near the only road that 8

cuts through the forest and to stop general public to use the forest and (4) stop future mining operations. The HCA where this mini-RAP was conducted is approximately 60 km south of Goroka town, on the south west slope of Mt. Michael between S6º 22’ 48.6”, E145 º 15’ 28.4” and S6 º 22’ 55.5” E145 º 16’ 38.6” which is between 2119 and 2800 m a.s.l. In this mini-RAP each taxon specialist used the same methods and replicated them at each site. We spend spent 14 days in July 2009 conducting field surveys at the Mt. Michael site; 7 days on each site. This is the first of the three mini-RAPs to be conducted in EHP.

Taxon Reports

1. The Birds- by Paul Igag

Background- Birds of Eastern Highlands Province The avifauna of EHP Province is probably the best known compared to other parts of New Guinea because of past expeditions to the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. These past expeditions covered Okapa, Lufa and Karamui areas by Diamond & Terbough in 1964 and by Diamond in 1966 and again in 1967. These expeditions mostly collected birds at medium and high altitude. At Mt. Michael the collection of birds was at two places. One was at the north-west slope in the tall forest at 2438m with an auxiliary camp made at the stunted sub-alpine forest at 3108m which facilitated collection at alpine grassland and at Lufa government station (1920m) on the northwest slope of Mt. Michael. At Mengino also in Lufa, the collections were made between 1875m and 1402m. A total of 136 species of birds were recorded by Diamond from these locations. More recent collections were done by Mack & Wright (1989-1993) from Crater Mountains, south-west of Mt. Michael by monitoring birds at the foot hills between 800m and 1300m. They recorded 170 bird species in the four years of monitoring. This was followed later with two biodiversity surveys in 1996 at 2500m and in 1998 at 3000m in the Crater Mountains though results of these surveys are not available. In these surveys both flora and fauna were documented while ecological knowledge of birds continued to improve as a result of numerous studies conducted at species and community level. Crater Mountain survey sites by Mack and Wright are 35km south-west of Mt. Michael.

This mini RAP was conducted towards the southwest slope of Mt. Michael at Hogave village in the Gimi area, about six km from Lufa government station where Diamond made his collections in 1960s. The forested area of the Hogave land is community initiative conservation area and they have protected it for over 20 years. To help the villagers with their conservation initiative, the PNG Department of Environment and Conservation conducted a biological Survey in 1989 and recorded 32 bird species. The goal of this survey is to improve avifauna knowledge of Hogave and produce data that will help Hogave community and its partners with their conservation goals.

Methods and Study Sites Birds were sample through combination of visual and auditory surveys and mist netting at the three sites; Hogave Resource Centre (HRC), 2119-2179 m, Kavoyakotutai (Camp 1), 2292-2384m and Ulusulu’i (Camp 2) 2800 m on the south west slope of Mt. Michael. Mist netting was not conducted at the HRC due to time constrains so it will be surveyed again in future. Time and weather were the major obstacles during the survey. It rained almost every day which limited mist netting and line transects and point count surveys were difficult to conduct.

Mt. Michael is one of the isolated peaks on the Papua New Guinea central range peaking at about 3,500 m. The survey was conducted at the lower montane to mid montane forest in an area that has been preserved for over 20 years by local Hogave community who own the forest. According to the locals there is no extraction of resources of any sort since then until the day the Mini RAP was conducted.

General Impression of Each Site Fifty-one species were recorded in 22 groups from all the three sites (Table 1). Species abundance, distribution patterns and abundance varied among the sites. Camp 1 had high species abundance with 34 species while the HRC and Camp 2 recorded 22 and 26 species respectively. Fruit-doves (columbidaes), flycatchers and robins (Eopsaltridae), honeyeaters (meliphagidaes), whistlers (pachycephalidaes), bird of paradise (paradisaeidae) and parrots and cockatoos (psittacidae) contributed most species.Speciesthat had higher abundance at Camp 1 than Camp 2 were Melanocharis versteri (Dicaeidae, Fantail Berrypecker), Sericornis nouhuysi (Acanthizidae, Scrub-wren), Crateroscelis robuster (Sylviidae, Mountain-mouse Warbler), and Ptilinophus guisei (Meliphagidae,Rufous-backed Honeyeater). Conversely Sericornis papuensis (Acanthizidae, Papuam Scrub-wren) and Clytomyias insignis (Maluridae, Ornage Fairy-wren) had high abundance at Camp 2 than Camp 1. While species that had restricted distribution or were only netted at Camp 1 was Peneothello cyanus (Eopsaltridae, Blue-grey Robin) and for Camp 2 it was the congener Penethello sigillatus (White-winged Robin).

The results show clear distribution of birds along an elevational gradient. The five species that occurred in all the sites are indicative of species with broad altitudinal range. Other species which were found only on one site such as Cnemophilus macgregorii are species with narrow altitudinal range. It seems that birds tend to be segregated into different altitudinal zones. The general trend for bird species distribution along an elavational gradient is that species diversity decreased with increasing altitude. However, about the same number of species was found at lower site and the high elevation site. The reason could be that the lower site (HRC) is more disturbed area because it is close to the village and near the main road where there is constant presence of people compared to the mid and high elevation sites. However, the main obstacle during the survey was constant rainfall. Therefore, it is possible that total bird diversity of Hogave is an underestimation. Mist nets were closed earlier when it rained to prevent birds strangling themselves during the rain. Compared to 1989 survey (used similar methods), this survey recorded 19 more species but missed five species (Astrapia stephanie, mezomella reseembegii, Monarcha axillaries, Psttacella bremii, Epimachus mayeri and Mezomella adolophinae). This brings the total number of bird species in Hogave Conservation area up to 56.

Table 1. Bird species list

HRC Camp1 Camp2 Number Group Taxa Common Name 2119- 2292- 2800m 2179m 2384m Gerygone cinerea Grey Gerygone

1 Acanthizidae Sericornis nouhuysi Large Scrub Wren Papuan Scrub Sericornis papuensis Wren [= Collared Sparrowhawk Accipiter a small Accipiter 2 cirrhocephalus?] Acciptridae Henicopernis longicauda Long-tailed Buzzard Mountain Owlet Aegothelidae 3 Aegotheles insignis Nghtjar 4 Apodidae Collocalia esculenta Glossy Swiftlet Artamus maximus Great Wood Artamidae 5 Swallow 6 Cassuaridae Casuarius bennetti Dwarf Cassowary [= Claret-breasted Fruit-dove Ptilinopus a red bellied Fruit- viridis?] Dove Bronze Ground- Gallicolumba beccarii dove Gymnophaps albertisii Papuan Mountain Columbidae 7 Pigeon Macropygia amboinensis Brown Cuckoo- Dove Ptilinophus rivoli White-breasted Fruit-Dove Peltops montanus – identified from Mountain Peltops Cracticidae 8 Schellenberg photo taken at Hogave Fantail Dicaeidae 9 Melanocharis versteri Berrypecker Lessor-ground Amalocichla incerta Robin Microeca papuana Canary flycatcher 10 Eopsaltridae Peneothello cyanus Blue-grey Robin White-winged Peneothello sigillatus Robin Black-throaed Poecilodryas albonotata Robin Erythrura trichroa Blue face Parrot Estrildidae 11 Finch Orange-crown Maluridae 12 Clytomyias insignis Fairywren Honeyteater Myzomela rosenbergii Red-collared Myzomela Melidectes rufocrissalis Yellow-browed Honeyeater Melidectus belfordi Belford's Melidectus Meliphaidae Common Smoky 13 Melipotes fumigatus Honeyeater Rufous-backed Ptiloprora guisei Honeyeater Grey-streaked Ptiloprora perstriata Honeyeater

Slaty-chinned Toxorhamphus poliopterus Long-billed Daphoenositta chrysoptera (white- Varied Sitella Neosittidae 14 headed form) 15 Orthonychidae Ifrita kowaldi Blue-capped Ifrita Eulacestoma nigropectus Wattled Poughbill Rufous-naped 16 Pachycephalidae Pachycephala rufinacha Whistler Pachycephala schlegelli Regent Whistler Rhagologus leucostigma Mottled Whistler Cnemophilus loriae Loria's BoP Cnemophilus macgregorii Crested BoP Epimachus fastuosus Black Sickle Bill 17 Paradisaeidae Lophorina superba Superb Bird of Paradise Parotia Lawessii Lawes Parotia [ = Double-eyed Fig-Parrot Cyclopsitta a Fig-Parrot diophthalma?] species Chharmosyna papou Papuan Lorikeet Psittacidae Neopsittacus musschenbroekii Yellow-billed 18 Lorikeet Oreocharis arfaki Tit Berrypecker Macgregor's Ptilonorhyncidae 19 Amblyornis macgregoriae Bowerbird 20 Rhipiduridae Rhipidura albolimbata Friendly Fantail Rhipidura atra Black Fantail Mountain Mouse 21 Sylviidae Crateroscelis robusta Warbler Phylloscopus poliocephalus Island Leaf-warbler Zosterops novaeguineae New Guinea Zosteropide 22 White-eye

Summary Total Species recorded at each site 22 34 25 Species Shared

between site 1 & 2 7 Species shared

between site 2 & 3 14 Species shared

amongst all sites 5 Total for all sites 51

Species of Interest Some species of paradisaeidae group had limited range distribution and are CITES species. These birds are; Superb Bird of Paradise, Lophorina superba was recorded at HRC, Black Sicklebill, Epimachus fastuosus and Loria’s Bird of Paradise, Cnemophilus loriae were both present at Camp 1, Cnemophilus macgregorii was only present at Camp 2, two Cnemophilus’ overlapped at 2400m and C. loriae was replaced by its congener C. macgregorii at 2800 m. The only Ptilonorhynchidae Macgregor’s bowerbird, Amblyornis macgregoriae was recorded at both mid and high elevation camps. Amblyornis macgregoriae prefer forest interior and rarely come to the forest edge. The ratite Cassuarius bennettii is an IUCN Threatened species. It was

identified from droppings at Camp 1. In other mountain peaks of New Guinea they are present up to timber line, 3000 m.

Conservation Recommendations The presence of IUCN threatened species Cassuarius bennettii and CITES species should warrant conservation and preservation of this area. The C. bennettii is totally dependent on undisturbed forest with plenty of food sources so the forest must be kept intact as it is now. The narrow altitudinal range distribution of some birds such as Amblyornis macgregoriae should be a reason for conservation action. Theoretically, a narrow altitudinal range supports a small population which means that they can be easily wiped out by significant change in environmental variables (temperature, rainfall, etc.), drop in availability of food items, range expansion by another species, disease and habitat clearing. Habitat clearing through shifting cultivation on the foothills of Mt. Michael is a main threat to bird fauna of Mt. Michael. Birds are good indicators of environmental change. The presence of C. bennetti,A. macgregoriae, C. macgregorii and Epimachus fastuosus which prefer intact forests are an indication that the forest in Hogave Conservation Areas is healthy; a habitat where great variety of birds and animals can live. However, if the Hogave community and other communities living around the foothills of Mt. Michael are not careful, birds and other wildlife will be lost. The lower number of species found at HRC should serve an example (although it could be due to low sampling effort) of what can happen to species diversity of the area. Perhaps data from this study should help the Hogave community, EHP provincial government and interested conservation NGOs to further strengthen conservation efforts of Hogave Conservation Area.

Acknowledgements I would like to thank Daniel Solomon, Bega Inaho and Keneth Yhuanje for their help in mist netting birds and data collection.

2. The Mammals – by Enock Kale There are over 200 species of mammals on the island of New Guinea. However, very few ecological studies have been done on the mammalian fauna resulting in dearth of biological data for conservation actions. Thus, rapid assessment, identification and documentation of the mammalian fauna in New Guinea, the world’s largest tropical island, is crucial for directing wildlife management decisions. Rapid assessment is important because it will enable biologists to identify areas of high biological diversity, discover new species or endemics that can prompt management actions. Rapid assessment is also crucial because many mammal species as well as other fauna from New Guinea have already been listed on the IUCN lists for Threatened species (e.g., 2004 IUCN Red List) and can also help us to improve our knowledge about their conservation status.

Brief Methods and Description of Study Sites The July 2009 mini rapid assessment program (RAP) for mammals was conducted at two elevations, 2400 m (Camp 1) and 2800 m (Camp 2) on the south-western slope of Mt.. Michael in the Eastern Highland Province, Papua New Guinea. The survey was conducted in a virgin forest mostly dominated by Nothofagus trees with medium to dense undergrowth of shrubs and herbs. There seems to be less difference in habitat types between the two elevations although moss became more abundant on trees and forest floor at 2800 m elevation.

We used live Elliot, snap and harp traps and bird mist nets to survey the mammal fauna. We baited live Elliot and snap traps with sweet potatoes and peanut butter. We did not operate the harp trap at 2800 m site because logistics became difficult at this elevation. Traps were set randomly along transects at possible locations for trapping mammals both on the ground and on logs and lianas. The mist nets were the same nets used for netting birds during the day and were left open overnight to trap volant mammals. Total trapping effort for both live and snap traps were 351 trap-nights excluding mist nets and harp traps (Table 2). Skull, whole body and liver (for DNA) specimens were collected for systematic and genetic analysis.

General Impressions/Results for Each Site and Overall Forty-one individuals from five species (Table 3) were recorded. The only individual of Pipistrellus collinus were trapped at Camp 1 in a harp trap set over a small stream. Nyctimene certans were trapped at Camp 2 but not at Camp 1. All individuals of Syconycteris australis and N. certans were trapped in the mist net left open overnight. The two volant mammal species were caught in both live Elliot and snap traps. The low elevation site (Camp 1) had higher trap success than the high elevation site (Camp 2), 8.57% versus 5.67% respectively. Trapping at both locations was conducted during rainy periods and although rainfall may limit rat movement, it does provide uniform weather conditions throughout, thus eliminating the effects of different weather patterns on trap success. Despite only three nights of netting at the higher elevation compared to five nights at the lower elevation site, more bats were caught at the 2800 m than at 2400 m elevation.

Interesting Species The two non-volant species, Paramelomys rubex and Rattus niobe are widespread species along the Central Cordillera of New Guinea (Flannery 1995) and both are important species at both elevations in terms of abundance although the number of the former declines at 2800 m. Two volant species, S. australis and N. certans are important species at 2800 m. According to Flannery (1995), S. australis is a widespread species at all elevations especially along the Central Cordillera. Although P. collinus was not trapped at 2800 m where both S. australis and N. certans were trapped, Flannery (1995) has netted all three species at 2300 m which shows that all the three species are sympatric.

Table 2. Trap effort for the Mt.Michael mini RAP July 2009

Survey Site Date Trap type # of traps # of nights Trap nights Camp 1 (2400m) 8 -9 July 2009 Live Elliot 30 5 150 10 - 12 July 2009 Harp traps 2 5 10 Snap traps 15 4 60

Mist- nets Used bird nets 5

Camp 2 (2800m) 15 - 17 July 2009 Live Elliot 36 3 108

Snap traps 11 3 33 Mist- nets Used bird nets 361

Table 3.Mammals caught at the two elevations during the mini RAP

Frequency/Elevation Small mammal types Common name Scientific name 2400 m 2800 m Total Non-Volant mammals Mountain Melomys Paramelomys rubex 10 2 12 Moss-forest rat Rattus niobe 8 6 14 Volant mammals Mountain Pipistrelle Pipistrellus collinus 1 0 1 Mountain Tube-nosed bat Nyctimene certans 0 6 6 Syconycteris Common Blossom-bat australis 1 7 8 Total 5 20 21 41

Conservation Recommendation The pristine forest encompassing both study sites has been set aside as a conservation area by the Hogave community for more than 20 years. The site holds intact Nothofagus forest and harbors important mammal and other faunal species sampled in this survey giving this forest the scientific and conservation value. This is an excellent site for further research and monitoring of biodiversity that will continue to enhance conservation efforts of the local communities. Besides, Hogave Conservation Area can be reached cheaply and in few hours by car from Goroka, the provincial capital, thus avoiding the logistical problem which is a major hassle in getting into many remote parts of Papua New Guinea. Very little ecological work has been done on the mammal fauna in New Guinea for example; the common mammals trapped at this site are yet to be studied. Further ecological studies on the mammals present at this site and other fauna and flora can help strengthen the capacity of the Hogave community to continue to protect their virgin forest.

Acknowledgements I thank David Kima for inviting us into the Hogave community and for the use of their guest house facilities, photographers and biologists from A Rocha International (Barbara and Rick, Jean-Claude and Martine) for their company, Pasi John for coordinating activities between the biologists and the local community, and all the local assistants who helped tirelessly in the rain, mud and cold.

Reference Flannery, T. 1995. Mammals of New Guinea. Reed Books and Cornell University Press, Australia.

3. The Ants– by Katayo Sagata Introduction Biodiversity conservation efforts are based on data derived from vertebrates, flowering plants and few popular invertebrates such as butterflies and mollusks. However, studies show that no one such group can serve as proxy for all the rest. It is increasingly realized that lesser known but species rich invertebrates such as spiders, dragon flies, beetles and ants should be included in conservation efforts. For this reason, ants are increasingly used in biodiversity surveys because

ants are one of the most ecologically important groups of animals worldwide. Ants are rich in species and abundance in distributions, although not as rich as coleopteran, up to 1259 species have been recorded in the world. Ants are numerically dominant with large biomass in almost all the terrestrial habitats except for the two poles of the earth and above snow-level. Taxonomically, they are well known, easy to collect, and they are sensitive to environmental change and also perform important ecological functions.These attributes make ants an ideal group for monitoring and evaluating environmental conditions and biodiversity.

Methods and Study Sites Ants from Hogave Conservation Area, on the western slopes of Mt. Michael, Lufa, Eastern Highlands Province (between S6º 22’ 48.6”, E145 º 15’ 28.4” and S6 º 22’ 55.5” E145 º 16’ 38.6”) were collected using Winkler Method and hand collection. In Winkler method, leaf litter was collected from 1m2 plot every 5m over a 100m transect using a shifter. The ants were then separated from the leaf litter by hanging the litter in the Winkler sacks for 4-5 days. For hand collection method, ants were sampled from twigs, rotten logs, flower buds, under rocks, ant plants, mud tunnels on trees and foraging ants on the ground and foliage. Ants were sampled from three elevations, low (2119-2179m, Hogave Resource Centre), mid (2292-2384m, Kavoyakotutai- Camp1) and high (2800m, Ulusulu’i-Camp2) from 07-20 July 2009.

General Impression of Each Site Twenty-three ant species belonging to 16 genera in four subfamilies were collected (Table 4). Eleven ant species, nine genera in three subfamilies were collected from Hogave Resource Centre, 13 species, 10 genera in four subfamilies were collected at Kavoyakotutai (Camp 1) and no ants were collected from high elevation site (Camp 2).

A general rule on ant distribution along an elevational gradient is that species richness and abundance are high at warmer low elevations and drop off completely at around 2500-3000m. Here, mid elevation site (Kavoyakotutai) had slightly more ant species than Hogave Resource Centre (lower site). Statistically, there could not be significant difference because there was a difference of only two ant species. The result is not surprising because elevational difference was only 100m and the vegetation type was the same between these two sites. The absence of ants at the high elevation site (Camp 2) was again not surprising because ants usually drop off at this elevation. However, it is possible that total ant species diversity of Hogave is an underestimation because it rained everyday during the 14 days of sampling. Rain discourages ants from foraging and wet litter in Winkler sacks take longer to dry which would force ants out into the collecting jars.

Species of Interest Pheidole is the second largest ant genera with 898 ant species in the world one will almost always find them whenever ants are sampled. Here, three species of Pheidole were found which, is the highest number of species in one ant genera found at Hogave. Unlike Pheidole, Vollenhovia is not as diverse (67 species) but also contributed three species and occurred at two sites. Other species like Tetramorium, Phillidris, Ochtellus and Apheanogaster are cosmopolitan species. Only two species of Ochtellus are known from PNG but could not tease out what species was found at Hogave. Technomyrmex albipes is widespread tropical pest ant. Pest ants are usually found near human habitation and open areas where it is disturbed. Not surprising, T. albipes was found nesting in a ficus species near Hogave Conservation Centre (guest house). Tetramorium pacificum another widespread exotic ant species is not considered as a pest ant. Tetramorium pacificum was found 16

near the guest house and under completely closed forest litter at Camp 1 which suggests that T. pacificum must have been in the area for a long time. Strumigenys, Onychomyrmex, Amblyopone, Proceratium, Discothyrea are common inhabitants of leaf litter in tropical forests and not easily encountered.

Table 4: Morpho-species list of ants from Mt.Michael, Hogave, Eastern HighlandsProvince. An X shows ant species present at that elevation

Site, Elevation and Species Distribution Hogave Kavoyakotutai Ulusulu’i Subfamily Morpho-species Resource Camp1 Camp2 Centre 2292-2384m 2800m 2119-2179m Ochtellus sp X Philidris sp1 X Dolichoderinae Philidris sp2 X Technomyrmex albipes X Formicinea Paratrechina sp2 X Apheanogaster sp1 X Monomorium sp2 X Pheidole sp1 X Pheidole sp2 X Pheidole sp3 X Strumigenys sp1 X Myrmicinae Strumigenys sp2 X Tetramorium pacificum X X Tetramorium sp1 X Vollenhovia sp1 X Vollenhovia sp2 X Vollenhovia sp3 X Amblyopone sp1 X Discothyrea X Hypoponera sp1 X Ponerinae Onychomyrmex sp1 X Ponera sp1 X Proceratium sp1 X Total 23 11 13 0

Conservation Recommendations The study site is a pristine lower to mid-montane forest belonging to the Hogave people of the Kimi speaking group of Lufa. The elders of Hogave lead by David Kima foresaw the importance of protecting their forest and declared the area as the “Hogave Conservation Area” late in the 1980s. Although, it is not legally registered as a Conservation Area under the laws of Papua New Guinea, the people of Hogave continue to protect the forest. It is amazing to see how effective it is after 23 years it was locally declared as a conservation area. Hunting, cutting of trees and harvesting of other plant materials like firewood are strictly forbidden. Other communities who used the access road that cuts through part of the conservation area are strongly advised not to use the forest or wander off into the forest.

Consequently, the Hogave village has more forested and arable land compared to other communities surrounding Mt. Michael. During the survey we informed our local communities of

the importance of protecting their forest and why they should continue to so. Conducting this biological survey further enhanced conservation activities of the forest. The survey was the first scientific activities in 23 years since the site was demarcated as a conservation area. Quality of the forest, the people, vicinity to nearest town (Goroka), accessibility and the bottom approach to conservation, have impressed PNGIBR and PNGIBR is interested to conduct long term studies there.

The occurrence of closed canopy forest ant species such as Strumigenys, Onychomyrmex, Amblyopone, Proceratium, Discothyrea are an indication of undisturbed pristine forest. These species and other ant species occur in the leaf litter and require closed canopy forest to maintain the appropriate microclimate they need. The local communities must be encouraged and provide cash income incentives such as scientific research so that they will continue to protect the forest.

Acknowledgements I thank David Kima (Evangelical Alliance of PNG, Hogave elder), John Pasi (Hogave Resource Centre Coordinator) and people of Hogave village who allowed me to work on their land and tirelessly assisted me in the field work.

4. The Plants: By Bega Inaho & Banak Gamui Introduction Vegetation supports critical functions in the biosphere. Apart from many important functions it play in the ecosystem, It serves as wildlife habitat and the energy source for the vast array of animal species on the planet (and, ultimately, to those that feed on these).Perhaps most importantly, and often overlooked, global vegetation (including algal communities) has been the primary source of oxygen in the atmosphere, enabling the aerobic metabolism systems to evolve and persist. Trees are the largest of all vegetation forms, and their continued existence in any forest type is of paramount importance to the general ecosystem. The species richness and structural diversity of trees is fundamental to a forest’s overall biodiversity.

Brief Methods and Study Site This study was conducted on the south west slope of Mt. Michael in Lufa district of Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. The plot was established at Camp 1, Kavoyakotutai at 2400 m. a.s.l. and the vegetation is a lower primary montane forest. This area was declared as a conservation area for more than 20 years by Hogave community who are the customary landowners. However, the conservation area was not registered and gazetted under PNG laws. A 100m x 100m plant plot was established by walking on compass bearing with 50 m tape measures. The plot was established 100m south from the main track that goes up to the peak and a 64 m way from the camp site. The one hectare plot was divided into 25 sub-plots of 20 x 20 m. All trees, lianas, pandanus and tree ferns with DBH ≥ 10 cm were enumerated and recorded. Due to time limitations, only the DBH were recorded. DBH was measured at 1.4 m above the ground and the trees were painted with permanent tree paint where the reading was taken. All trees enumerated were tagged using aluminium tag and nails and the borders of the sub-plots were marked and made permanent using 1 m x 20 mm PVC pipes. Plant identification will be done latter by plant taxonomists from PNG Forests Research Institute. The study was done from 07th to 17th July 2009.

General Impression of the Site Overall, 783 trees and 1 liana with DBH ≥ 10 cm were recorded in the one hectare plot with mean DBH of 21.29 ± 12.76 (± SD) for the trees. Size of trees ranged from 10-118 cm in DBH and 18

more than half of the trees were less than 20 cm DBH (Fig. 2). Stem density decreased with increasing DBH (see figure 1). The mean stem density in the 25 sub-plot is 31.64 ± 8.13 (± SD) with a range of 13-49 stems per plot.

DBH class Distribution of trees at Mt. Michael 1ha Plot

500

450 400

350

300

250

200

Number Number of trees 150

100

0 10 ≥ 19.9 20 ≥ 30 ≥ 40 ≥ 50 ≥ 60 ≥ 70 ≥ 80 ≥ 90 ≥ ≥ 100 29.9 39.9 49.9 59.9 69.9 79.9 89.9 99.9 DBH Class

Figure2. DBH class for trees in the one hectare plot at Mt. Michael.

Interesting Observations The results show that big trees of 50 cm DBH and over are very few which explain why stem density per plot decreased with increasing DBH. The one hectare plot, sub-plots and trees were marked permanently, so species identification will be done later. Besides it will be interesting to do a follow up study in the future to study the dynamics of the trees.

Conservation Recommendations Apart from natural disturbances, there are no signs of human disturbances on the vegetation and the forest in general. Although the study site is only 30-40 minute walk from the main road the forest is totally pristine. Several nights a ground cuscuse (Phalanger sp) fed on a tree right next to the camp site without even being scared by noise from the camp and the torch light. Without their food plants, cuscuses and other fauna will not exist. Providing information like this to local Hogave community will help them to continue preserving their forest. Besides, the area is a good site for more scientific research and eco-tourism. However, the Hogave Conservation Area is not registered under the Protected Areas Act of PNG. It is important to register the area and have it declared as a conservation area.

Acknowledgement Special thank you to our field assistants Jeremiah Lutunamo for the local names of plants, and David Vira and other individuals from Hogave. Also to John Pasi (Hogave Resource Centre Co- ordinator) and all the elders and people of Hogave village who allowed me to work on their land and tirelessly assisted me in one way or another.

5. The Herps -(survey to be conducted later)

Project Partners 1. Evangelical Alliance of PNG 2. Institute of Biological Research 3. Hans Wilsdorf Foundation

The above project partners have assisted the Hogave Conservation and the Hogave Community with a Water Supply and a Micro Hydro Power plant that produces 15-20 kilowatt power. This hydro power is providing electricity for the village and the Conservation Centre. Funding for these two major projects were made available by Hans Wilsdorf Foundation in Geneva Switzerland. This organization also funded the major scientific expedition and the rapid assessment survey of flora and fauna in the forest as shown in this profile of Hogave Conservation.

Institute of Biological Research is training village research assistants and they are also continuing to collect biological data from the area.

Evangelical Alliance provides leadership and advice, while IBR provides scientific officers to do research work and training locals on conservation methods and data collection and Hans Wilsdorf Foundation in Geneva provided most of the funding to implement the projects.

Recommendation & Request:  We have done our part in conserving the virgin tropical forest for about 30 years now which is beneficial not only to the local community but humanity in general. We believe our effort has also contributed to the balance of carbon emissions and contribute to the overall ecosystem.

 And we seek donor agencies to assist us fulfill objective number two which is to improve the living conditions of our people.

 We wish to extend on the current micro hydro power plant and light up majority of the houses in the village of Hogave and also provide electricity to a primary school and a sub health centre within the local area.

 We also want to construct a dormitory type accommodation for student scientists who come to our forest to do research as well as to accommodate tourists.