A Rapid Biodiversity Assessment of Papua New Guinea’s Hindenburg Wall Region edited by Stephen Richards & Nathan Whitmore Published by: Wildlife Conservation Society Papua New Guinea Program PO BOX 277, Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province PAPUA NEW GUINEA Tel: +675-532-3494 www.wcs.org Editors: Stephen J. Richards and Nathan Whitmore. Authors: Leeanne E. Alonso, Ken P. Aplin, Arison Arihafa, Kyle N. Armstrong, Michael Hammer, Jiri Hulcr, John Par Kagl, Bensolo Ken, , John S. Lamaris, Andrea Lucky, Chris J. Müller, Stephen J. Richards, Eli Sarnat, Günther Theischinger, Fanie Venter, Nathan Whitmore, and Iain Woxvold. The Wildlife Conservation Society is a private, not-for-profit organisation exempt from federal income tax under section 501c(3) of the Inland Revenue Code. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Wildlife Conservation Society or PNG Sustainable Development Program. Suggested citation: Richards, S.J. and N. Whitmore (editors) 2015. A rapid biodiversity assessment of Papua New Guinea's Hindenburg Wall region. Wildlife Conservation Society Papua New Guinea Program. Goroka, PNG. ISBN: 978-0-9943203-0-8 Front cover Image: Rocky Roe (waterfall on approach to Minni Camp) Rear cover Image: Stephen J. Richards (Nyctimystes oktediensis) ©2015 Wildlife Conservation Society TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ii Partner Organisation Profiles iii Participants & Authors v Executive Summary vii Introduction 1 Chapter 1: Traditional & Local Ecological Knowledge 3 Chapter 2: Vascular Plants 14 Chapter 3: Ants & Scolytine Beetles 44 Chapter 4: Butterflies 60 Chapter 5: Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies) 75 Chapter 6: Freshwater fishes 84 Chapter 7: Herpetofauna 94 Chapter 8: Birds 103 Chapter 9: Non-Flying Mammals 131 Chapter 10: Bats 161 i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many people and organisations helped to facilitate the 2013 Hindenburg Wall survey. First and foremost we are most grateful to PNGSDP for their financial and logistic support, without which the project could not have been undertaken. We would especially like to thank Stanis Tao, Tricia Caswell and Kaia Songoa of PNGSDP. We are also grateful to the Department of Environment and Conservation for granting us the necessary approvals and permits, and for supporting our work on the Hindenburg Wall. This survey also would not have been possible without the support, aid and goodwill of the Star Mountains Local Level Government, the Western Province Provincial Government and the people of Bultem, Finalbin, Migalsin, Kawarobip villages and Tabubil. In particular we would like to acknowledge the Keikei, Kimka, Fikalin and Sikalin clans. We would especially like to thank the following people from Bultem village: the landowners Brian Yapi, Tom Kilmo, and Papa Limon; as well as the late Jason Yapi, Buka Oxem, Eileen Yapi, Isach Willy, Grace Davaisok, Jeffery Rawali, Jennifer Jason, Joseph Mek, Maltex Erisan, Morris Arnold, Joshua Tiemg, Scops Nimbs, and Sinem Yokomin. We would also like to thank the following people from Finalbin and Kawarobip villages: the landowners Tarabi Buretam, Epson Buretam, and Bakim Buretam; as well as Dominic Bitalin, Joel Tunoim, Mark Tunoim, Isac Tamop, John Kasamyap, Anton Milok, Rodrick Fred, Philomon Buturaue, Philomon Butunyap, Taruku Buratem, Franky Lukas, and Lukas Bukokim. We are grateful to the efforts of theTabubil-based fish team: Michael Borok, Josiah Bekton, Joshua Lieng and Noah. We would like to also acknowledge the efforts of Geoffrey Saikeng and Mr Demus Daksep (executive officer) of the Olsobip local level government for their tireless efforts to secure the original survey sites. A special thanks goes to Roger Goodwin (University of Queensland) for his kind assistance in allowing WCS equipment to be stored and collected in Brisbane over the Christmas holiday period in advance of the survey, Sacha de Witt for helping coordinate efforts in Tabubil, Bennett Spencer from Adventist Aviation for piloting the WCS equipment into Tabubil, the Tabubil Women’s Resource Centre, as well as the helicopter pilots of Hevilift Tabubil. We would also like to thank OTML staff: Luke Jackson, Rob Smilie, Michael Ridd, Sandy Thomas, Leonard Lagisa, Jeff Ransley, Yon Buhuyana, Gawareng Kerod, Babanem Ernest and Trevor Green, and Verolyn Nombri from Radio Fly for facilitating elements of the survey. Finally we would also like to acknowledge the efforts of the support crew and other field colleagues through what at times were challenging circumstances: James Watson, John Kuange, John Ole, Junior Walker, Lilly Ugi, Marygrace Wanamp-Puri, Phil Shearman, Ross Sinclair and Yazid Abdad. ii PARTNER ORGANISATION PROFILES PNG Sustainable Development Program (PNGSDP) www.pngsdp.com PNGSDP was established in 2002 with the mission of promoting development that meets the needs of the present generation and establishes the foundation for continuing progress for future generations of Papua New Guineans. This was achieved by using funds generated from its share in Ok Tedi Mining Limited to support development in PNG, in particular for the people of the Western Province. PNGSDP’s objective is to support selected sustainable development programs through projects and initiatives in keeping with the aims and aspirations outlined in the UN Millennium Development Goals. Papua New Guinea Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) www.dec.gov.pg DEC is vested with powers to protect environmental values and for the sustainable use of natural resources as mandated by the Fourth Goal of the PNG National Constitution. Its mission is to ensure PNG’s natural resources are managed to sustain environmental quality, human wellbeing and support improved standards of living. The Directive Principles of DEC include the wise use of natural resources and the environment in the interest of development and in trust for future generations, the conservation and replenishment of the environment and its sacred, scenic and historical qualities, and giving adequate protection to PNG’s unique plants and animals. Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) www.wcs.org The Wildlife Conservation Society, founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society, has the clear mission to save wildlife and wild places across the globe. WCS does so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. With a commitment to protect 25 percent of the world’s biodiversity, WCS addresses four of the biggest issues facing wildlife and wild places: climate change, natural resource exploitation, the connection between wildlife health and human health, and the sustainable development iii of human livelihoods. While taking on these issues, WCS manages more than 80 million hectares of protected lands around the world, with more than 200 scientists on staff. The goals of the WCS programme in PNG are to promote the sustainable use and rehabilitation of terrestrial and coastal marine ecosystems and to identify and implement measures to address the effects of climate change. This approach aims to safeguard biodiversity, livelihoods, cultural heritage, and user rights of Papua New Guineans. iv PARTICIPANTS & AUTHORS Leeanne E. Alonso (Ants) Alois Gambia (Butterflies) Global Wildlife Conservation, c/o Chris Müller PO Box 129, Department of Biological Sciences Austin, TX 78767 Macquarie University USA. Sydney, 2109 Email: [email protected] Australia Email: [email protected] Ken P. Aplin (Mammals) Division of Mammals Michael Hammer (Fishes) National Museum of Natural History Department of Fishes Smithsonian Institution Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory P.O. Box 37012, MRC 108 P.O. Box 4646, Darwin, NT 0801 Washington, D.C. 20013−7012 Australia USA Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Jiri Hulcr (Scolytine beetles) Arison Arihafa (Plants) University of Florida WCS Papua New Guinea School of Forest Resources & Conservation PO Box 277 317 Newins-Ziegler Hall Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province Gainesville, FL 32611−0410 Papua New Guinea USA. Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Kyle N. Armstrong (Bats) John Par Kagl Specialised Zoological (Community engagement, Traditional knowledge) 7 Palmerston Road, Unley WCS Papua New Guinea South Australia 5061 PO Box 277, Goroka Australia Eastern Highlands Province Email: [email protected] Papua New Guinea Email: [email protected] v Bensolo Ken (Birds) Gunther Theischinger (Odonata) WCS Papua New Guinea NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet PO Box 277 Office of Environment and Heritage Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province PO Box 29, Lidcombe, NSW 1825 Papua New Guinea Australia Email: [email protected] Email:[email protected] John S. Lamaris (Mammals) Fanie Venter (Plants) WCS Papua New Guinea Research Associate PO Box 277 Australian Tropical Herbarium Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province Sir Robert Norman Building (E2) Papua New Guinea James Cook University Cairns Campus Email: [email protected] MacGregor Road Smithfield, QLD 4878 Chris Müller (Butterflies) Australia Department of Biological Sciences, Email: [email protected] Macquarie University Sydney, 2109, Nathan Whitmore (Project coordinator) Australia WCS Papua New Guinea Email: [email protected] PO Box 277 Goroka Stephen Richards Eastern Highlands Province (Team leader, Herpetofauna, Odonata) Papua New Guinea Department of Terrestrial Vertebrates Email: [email protected]